The main events by the morning: September 19

• The Fed lowered its key rate to 5% – the reduction was 0.5 percentage points. Job growth slowed down, and the unemployment rate increased. Jerome Powell noted that the regulator has gained greater confidence in the steady movement of inflation towards the 2% target. Now economic activity and inflation have reached an approximate balance. Against the background of a «soft Powell», the S&P 500 breaks through historical highs.

• Both US presidential candidates intend to meet with Vladimir Zelensky. Donald Trump told reporters that a meeting with the president of Ukraine could take place next week. Kamala Harris is also planning a meeting with Zelensky, who will visit the United States to participate in a meeting of the UN Security Council to discuss the supply of modern weapons.

• The death toll from explosions of electronic devices in Lebanon has risen to 20 people. The Lebanese Ministry of Health clarified that the number of victims is in the hundreds. Earlier, Reuters reported that the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad had planted explosives in devices purchased by Hezbollah.

• The EU's dependence on oil imports has increased. In the first half of 2024, 65% of the consumption of petroleum products in the EU was provided by imports, which is higher than last year's 64%. Italy and Lithuania remain the most independent from imports, where the share of imports in oil consumption is less than 25%.