Affirm Holdings Inc ( AFRM ) and Robinhood Markets Inc ( HOOD ) shares are trading higher ahead of today’s Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting. Although the policy-meeting statement is anticipated to maintain current interest rates, investors are eagerly awaiting the release of the Federal Reserve’s “dot plot” and updated Summary of Economic Projections (SEP) for further insight into future monetary policy.

The upcoming March release is crucial for markets, as it may signal whether the Fed plans fewer rate cuts. Changes in the dot plot could affect asset prices, with fewer rate cuts potentially boosting rates and the dollar, while unchanged or dovish projections may strengthen market sentiment.

See Also: Robinhood Stock Undervalued As Cryptocurrency Play, Analyst Says: ‘Crypto Market Cap To Reach $7.5 Trillion Vs. $2.6 Trillion Today’

Why This Matters To AFRM And HOOD

Affirm offers installment loans for online purchases, and Robinhood operates a trading platform. Both companies benefit from lower interest rates, as it reduces the cost of borrowing for consumers. With the expectation of interest rate cuts or a dovish stance from the Fed, borrowing costs could decrease, making it more attractive for consumers to take out loans for purchases or engage in trading activities.

This could lead to increased revenue and growth prospects for both Affirm and Robinhood, consequently boosting their stock prices.

Lower interest rates typically stimulate consumer spending and investment. If the Fed signals a commitment to keeping rates low or cutting them further, it could encourage consumers to spend more freely and investors to allocate more capital into the market.

Affirm, with its focus on facilitating consumer purchases, and Robinhood, as a platform for trading and investing, could see increased user activity and transaction volumes, driving up their stock prices.

The tech sector also often responds positively to accommodative monetary policy, as lower interest rates can reduce borrowing costs for tech companies and stimulate innovation and growth.

Affirm and Robinhood, being tech-oriented companies, could benefit from this sector-wide optimism and see their stock prices rise alongside other tech stocks in response to the Fed’s dovish stance.

See Also: Affirm to Webcast CFO Fireside Chat on March 22

AFRM is trading higher by 2.6% to $34.80.

HOOD is trading higher by 2.2% to $17.62.