Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s testimony before Congress has caused a stir in the financial world as he hinted at the possibility of higher interest rates, leading to a drop in the stock market.

According to CNBC, Powell suggested that interest rates could be “higher” than previously anticipated, which led to a sell-off in the markets. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 450 points, and traders are now betting that the Fed will hike rates by a half-point in March, as reported by Bloomberg.

The impact of Powell’s speech was also felt in the foreign exchange markets, as the GBP/USD pair surrendered modest intraday gains and hung near a daily low, as reported by FXStreet.

However, Reuters reported that Powell’s hawkish stance put a positive spin on the prospect of a rate hike, as traders see it as a sign that the economy is recovering.

Despite the uncertainty, traders are still optimistic about the market, with the view that the Fed’s commitment to inflation targets and job growth will ultimately benefit the economy.

As always, investors are advised to tread carefully and monitor the situation closely, as developments in the days and weeks ahead may have a significant impact on the markets.