Shares of Walmart, which fell some 10% yesterday after its earnings release, continued its slide. But the Fed minutes, and perceptions thereof, seem to have led the way. In today's release, the central bank signaled "further" gradual increases in the Fed funds rate later this year and warned of "upside risks" to economic growth. "Further" doesn't necessarily mean "faster," which could mean the Fed, under new chair Jerome Powell, could extend these rate hikes into 2019. Plus, Congress and the president agreed to a new budget deal that hikes spending, and the president also released plans for a massive upgrade to the nation's infrastructure.

Source: Forbes February 21, 2018 22:41 UTC