Headline: Fed Eases as AI Boom Tests Power Grids; UK Eyes SME Tax Relief and Markets Watch Nvidia
Introduction: Global markets are navigating a complex mix of looser monetary policy, intensifying AI-driven energy demand, and shifting tax priorities for small businesses. While the Federal Reserve trimmed rates to support employment, structural labor changes and inflation concerns could temper the impact. Meanwhile, the UK is weighing measures to shield small firms, and investors are bracing for pivotal tech earnings and fresh jobs data.
The Federal Reserve cut interest rates by 0.25% to bolster the labor market, but the benefits may be diluted by automation, a shrinking workforce, and lingering inflation risks. Lower borrowing costs typically support hiring and investment, yet the rise of AI and demographic headwinds could mute job creation even as price pressures remain in focus. In Asia, a busy midweek economic calendar on Wednesday, November 19, 2025, may add to rate-cut speculation depending on regional growth signals.
Policy developments in the UK point to potential relief for small businesses and the self-employed, as the government considers ways to shield them from tax increases. Any measures will have to balance competitiveness with fiscal discipline, particularly as public finances face tighter constraints. At the same time, the AI investment cycle is intensifying pressure on U.S. power infrastructure: data centers are driving an estimated 20GW surge in electricity demand, raising winter reliability concerns from the Pacific Northwest to Texas.
Market sentiment remains tightly linked to AI leaders and semiconductor demand. Lattice Semiconductor gained on AI-driven orders but remains below recent highs, highlighting ongoing volatility in chip and edge-computing names. Nvidia’s upcoming earnings and the next U.S. jobs report are potential catalysts for risk assets; softer labor data could reinforce expectations for additional rate cuts. In digital assets, speculative fever cooled as a meme coin tied to “Hawk Tuah Girl” plunged 93% after previously hitting a roughly $490 million market cap, amid a lawsuit seeking $325,000—another reminder of crypto’s elevated risk profile.
Key Points: – Fed cuts rates by 0.25% to support jobs, with inflation and structural labor shifts limiting the impact. – UK considering tax relief for small businesses and the self-employed, constrained by fiscal realities. – AI-driven data centers add roughly 20GW to U.S. power demand, heightening winter grid risks. – Nvidia earnings and the U.S. jobs report could shape rate-cut expectations and tech valuations. – Lattice Semiconductor rises on AI demand but remains volatile and below peak levels. – Meme coin tied to viral personality crashes 93% after a surge, facing a $325K lawsuit.
