The Federal Reserve may have done exactly what it was expected to do this week when raising interest rates another 50 basis points but its continued hawkish tone appears to be spooking the markets.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average, which slumped as much as 757 points, or 2.2 percent, on Dec. 15, slid again in early trading Dec. 16 as traders worried "whispers of a recession have turned into screams," according to Seeking Alpha commentary. With the European Central Bank and the Bank of England also raising rates by similar margins this week, there are fears of "opening up a new chapter for the world economy."
The macroeconomic situation will continue to worry healthcare systems as they face multiple sustained challenges linked to inflationary pressures, including attracting and retaining staff and their ability to follow through on capital expenditure plans.