Investors on Wall Street received a dose of optimism as US stocks rallied on Tuesday, fueled by comments from Federal Reserve officials that hinted at a potential halt to the current rate hike cycle.

Throughout the day, the market was abuzz with reactions to statements from various Fed speakers. By the close of the session, the indexes had notched up gains, buoyed by these insights.

A significant boost to market sentiment came from prepared remarks delivered in Washington DC by Fed Governor Christopher Waller. Waller suggested that consumer prices might be aligning with the central bank’s targets, opening up the possibility of interest rate cuts sooner than many had anticipated.

“While we’ve seen some early signs of economic moderation in the fourth quarter, inflation remains uncomfortably high,” Waller cautioned. “However, I’m increasingly optimistic that our policies are aptly calibrated to slow economic growth and steer inflation back to our 2 percent goal.”

In addition to Waller’s comments, the market also reacted to fresh US consumer confidence data released on Tuesday. The report indicated a slight improvement in November compared to the previous month. Despite ongoing concerns about an impending recession, the Conference Board’s Index rose to 102, surpassing the revised October figure of 99.1.

This confluence of positive signals from the Federal Reserve and the uptick in consumer confidence has given investors reason to hope that the relentless cycle of rate hikes might be nearing its end. This sentiment has translated into a surge of bullish activity on Wall Street, as market participants adjust their strategies in anticipation of a potentially more accommodating monetary policy landscape.