Yahoo Finance · 18 Sep, 18:22 · Finance briefing

Fed keeps the door open for more rate hikes as Schmid warns there's 'work to do'

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell has indicated that the central bank remains prepared to implement further interest rate increases if economic conditions necessitate it.

What it means for you ↓ Courses for this story

28%average pay gap between certified and uncertified finance staff

2.4xfaster promotion with a professional credential

83%of finance leaders rank upskilling a top-3 priority

20days to your first credential

The briefing

The story
in brief.

What happened, who it affects, and why it landed on our intelligence desk — in plain English, sixty seconds or less.

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell has indicated that the central bank remains prepared to implement further interest rate increases if economic conditions necessitate it. Emphasising that 'work to do' remains in stabilising inflation, the Fed signals a cautious approach rather than an immediate pivot to rate cuts. This stance suggests that higher borrowing costs may persist longer than some market participants anticipated, requiring businesses and individuals to adjust their financial planning and investment strategies accordingly in a potentially volatile economic environment.

Employer demand for Finance and Accounting skills — indexed growth since 2019
Indicative index of skill mentions in professional job postings for the field this story moves (2019 = 1)

Your move

What this means
for your career.

Every headline redistributes opportunity. Here is who this one rewards — and how to be on the right side of it.

You must adapt your professional strategy to a higher-cost capital environment. Roles involving financial risk assessment and strategic planning become critical as organisations navigate tighter margins. Focus on developing expertise in financial modelling and risk management to help your employer optimise cash flow and mitigate exposure. If you work in leadership, prioritise operational efficiency and cost-control measures. Professionals in finance should deepen their understanding of macroeconomic indicators and their impact on corporate valuation. Update your skills in data analysis to forecast economic trends accurately. Consider courses that enhance your ability to make data-driven decisions under financial constraint. This is not the time for passive observation; actively position yourself as a problem-solver who can navigate economic uncertainty with precision and strategic foresight.

For this story, the fields that convert it into pay are Finance and Accounting, Risk Management Strategies, Financial Modeling and Business And Management — exactly the programmes matched below. The chart shows the indicative salary uplift certified professionals report in each of those fields; every one of them is a click away, from £79, finishing in as few as 20 days.

Indicative salary uplift in the fields matched to this story
Indicative ranges from published continuing-education salary studies, by field — each field is a recommended course below

Matched to this story

Enrol in these
to benefit.

These programmes position you for exactly this shift — online, self-paced, and finishing with a verifiable certificate you can share the day you pass.