Stock markets advance as odds for another Fed rate cut grow

Investors on Tuesday welcomed more dovish comments from Federal Reserve officials reinforcing hopes it will cut interest rates next month, while a tech-led rally on Wall Street soothed recent AI bubble worries.

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After a swoon in recent weeks, optimism appeared to be returning to trading floors as the chances of a third successive reduction in US borrowing costs increases as a weakening labor market offsets stubbornly high inflation.

Fed governor Christopher Waller told Fox Business on Monday that inflation was not his main worry and that his "concern is mainly the labor market, in terms of our dual mandate" of the Fed to support jobs and keep a cap on prices.

"So I'm advocating for a rate cut at the next meeting."