After Fed rate cut, the next 6 months will be crucial for investors. Here’s why. Traders brace for volatility as more than $5 trillion in options set to expire in latest ‘triple witching’. Nvidia’s stock is surging. Here’s how it tends to perform after interest-rate cuts.

The federal funds rate is a benchmark that influences other interest rates throughout the economy. The Federal Reserve doesn't control the federal funds rate directly. Instead, it uses various monetary policy tools to steer the benchmark toward a target range, which is currently 4.75% to 5%.

Stocks have historically reacted well to Fed rate cuts. Since 1971, the first Fed cut has led to positive returns for investors 100% of the time in the next six months, with an average gain of 13%, according to Fundstrat's Tom Lee.