Investors face quagmire of falling earnings, higher rates

[Lodestar]

Source: Reuters

Investors may wade into unknown territory next month as the Federal Reserve readies the first rate hike in nearly a decade amid a corporate earnings recession.

S&P 500 earnings are on track to close their first reporting season of negative growth since the Great Recession and estimates call for sub-zero growth in the current quarter as well.

Even if the trend reverses next year, as expected, a Fed rate hike in December could mark an unprecedented conflict between a tightening cycle starting at the same time as earnings fall into recession.



Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/11/13/us-usa-stocks-weekahead-idUSKCN0T22KE20151113#Ebvhokp0cYI2GCQ5.97

[Yupster]

1. Rates should have been raised long ago

Everyone always wants to lower rates when times are bad, but then when things get better no one wants to raise them back.