Jerome Powell did not predict a [stock market crash](https://www.ebc.com/forex/is-the-stock-market-going-to-crash-in-2026-expert-analysis). He did not tell investors to sell. His point was narrower and more useful: U.S. stocks are expensive by several common measures, and expensive markets have less room for error when inflation, oil prices, interest rates, or earnings disappoint.
That matters now because the Fed is still dealing with elevated inflation, higher global energy prices, and uncertainty over the timing of future rate cuts. At its April 29, 2026, meeting, the Fed held the federal funds target range at 3.5% to 3.75% and said inflation was elevated, partly due to higher global energy prices. (1)
The practical takeaway: Powell’s comment is not a sell signal. It is a risk-management signal.
**What Powell Actually Said About Stocks**
Powell made the stock-market comment after his September 23, 2025, economic outlook speech in Rhode Island. During a Q&A, he said the Fed looks at broader financial conditions and added that “by many measures,” equity prices were “fairly highly valued.” (2)
That distinction matters. The Fed does not have a mandate to manage the [S&P 500](https://www.ebc.com/forex/s-and-p-500-hidden-correction-inside-the-stealth-bear-market). Its mandate is maximum employment and stable prices.
But stock prices, credit spreads, Treasury yields, and borrowing costs can affect financial conditions, which can influence spending, inflation, and the broader economy.
Read more here: [https://www.ebc.com/forex/jerome-powell-stock-market-warning-what-it-means-for-investors-now](https://www.ebc.com/forex/jerome-powell-stock-market-warning-what-it-means-for-investors-now)
