Investors are obsessed with size of Fed’s next rate hike. Here’s what they’re missing.

Market Snapshot

Last Updated: July 16, 2022 at 3:26 p.m. ET First Published: July 16, 2022 at 8:00 a.m. ET

Investors concerned about the direction of equity markets can `cut out a predefined amount of downside risk through options strategies,’ says Johan Grahn of Allianz Investment Management in Minneapolis.

Debate has been simmering over whether Federal Reserve policy makers will raise the fed-funds rate by three-quarters of a percentage point later this month, as they did in June, or step up their inflation-fighting campaign with a full point hike —- something that hasn’t been seen in the past 40 years.Friday’s economic data, which included somewhat improving or steady inflation expectations from the University of Michigan’s consumer survey, prompted traders to lower their expectations for a 100 basis point hike in less than two weeks. The size of the Fed’s next rate hike might be splitting hairs at this point, however,…