Title: **Soaring Mortgage Rates Stall Homebuyer and Refinance Demand**

Certainly, as a pro content creator, here's an **original blog post focused on US stock news**, inspired by the style and flow of your provided article's format, but **on a relevant stock market topic**: --- ## Tech Stocks Take a Hit as Fed Interest Rate Jitters Shake Wall Street Last week, the US stock market saw a dramatic shift in sentiment as investors responded to fresh signals from the Federal Reserve regarding potential future interest rate hikes. What started as a promising week for stocks quickly turned turbulent, with major indexes shedding earlier gains—especially in the once-highflying technology sector. ### A Promising Beginning The S&P 500 surged early in the week, buoyed by upbeat earnings reports from several large-cap companies and optimism that inflation may be cooling. Tech giants such as Apple, Microsoft, and Nvidia hit new intra-week highs, and growth-hungry investors poured fresh capital into the Nasdaq Composite. ### Fed Warnings Change the Tune The tide turned midweek after Fed officials made public statements suggesting the possibility of more rate hikes if inflation proves stubborn. The yield on the 10-year Treasury shot up, and with borrowing costs rising, investors began to rethink the premium prices paid for growth stocks. The result: a selloff that hit tech and other rate-sensitive sectors hardest. The Nasdaq Composite ended the week down, while defensive stocks in utilities and consumer staples outperformed. ### Investor Sentiment Sours As financial conditions tightened, demand for high-growth equities fell rapidly. Once bullish investors retreated to the sidelines, awaiting clearer signals on interest rates and economic growth. Trading volume in momentum names dropped, and ETF flows switched direction, with outflows from tech-focused funds increasing. ### What’s Next for US Stocks? Market strategists now caution that ongoing volatility is likely, with every Federal Reserve communication holding the potential to swing sentiment. “With rates moving higher, the discount rate on future corporate profits rises, and that particularly affects tech,” said one Wall Street analyst. “We might see sideways action in the near term unless economic data surprises on the upside.” For investors, the lesson is clear: In an environment shaped by shifting interest rate expectations, nimble decision-making and broad diversification will be key. --- Stay tuned for further updates as the market continues to digest economic data, Fed commentary, and the evolving global landscape.