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In an unexpected turn of events, Bank of America (BoA) made a bold prediction regarding the trajectory of the Federal Reserve (Fed) interest rates. BoA strategist Michael Hartnett suggests that the Fed may need to raise interest rates up to 6% to effectively curb inflation, despite a predicted pause on rate hikes in June.

A Hawkish Pause or a Rate Hike?

While many are eagerly awaiting the Fed’s Summary of Economic Projections for the year-end, Hartnett has gone on record to say that the report will likely predict lower-than-expected unemployment and a Personal Consumption Expenditure (PCE) Index of 4.5% and 3.6%. This comes despite marginally slower job growth last month.

Interestingly, the bank’s preferred inflation gauge, the PCE, has been relatively steady, averaging at 4.3% over the past three months. Despite this, speculation continues to surround the possibility of a significant rate hike in the near future.

What Does This Mean for Investors?

The ramifications of this prediction are far-reaching, especially for companies that are already grappling with economic headwinds. For instance, Coinbase, the largest cryptocurrency exchange in the US, is currently embroiled in a legal battle with the US Securities and Exchange Commission over alleged violations related to unregistered securities offerings.

If Hartnett’s prediction comes true and the interest rates soar to 6%, companies like Coinbase might find their investors jumping ship, causing their stock prices to nosedive. This could lead to a domino effect, impacting various sectors across the economy.

Bitcoin’s Fate Tied to the Fed?

The cryptocurrency market is also keeping a keen eye on the Fed’s moves. Antoni Trenchev, CEO of crypto financial services firm Nexo, believes that Bitcoin’s trajectory could mirror equities once the Fed’s Summary of Economic Projections is released.

Interestingly, the SEC’s lawsuit against Coinbase did not mention any Bitcoin-related products violating US law. This news, along with Bitcoin’s recovery to above $26,000 after last week’s lawsuit, has buoyed the crypto community’s spirits.

Will the Fed really push the rates up to 6% to curb inflation? Or will it stick to a more cautious approach?

Will companies like Coinbase be able to weather the storm if the interest rates shoot up? How will this affect the broader economy?

And what about Bitcoin? Will it continue its recovery, or will the Fed’s decision send it spiraling down again? The coming months are set to be a fascinating period in the world of finance.

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