JPMorgan CEO Warns of Potential Unpreparedness for 7% U.S. Interest Rates Worldwide

A U.S. interest rate of 7% has the potential to push the American economy towards a recession, instigating a cautious approach in financial markets.

According to Bloomberg's report on Tuesday, Jamie Dimon, the CEO of the prominent investment banking firm JPMorgan (JPM), expressed concerns about the global economy's readiness to confront the worst-case scenario of U.S. interest rates soaring to 7%, coupled with stagflation.

Since March 2022, the U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed) has incrementally raised the benchmark borrowing cost by 525 basis points, bringing it within the range of 5.25% to 5.5%, in an effort to curb inflation. This series of tightening measures in liquidity played a role in the crypto market crash witnessed last year.

Dimon suggests that the Fed may find it necessary to continue raising rates to combat persistent inflation. However, he warns that the subsequent increase in borrowing costs could inflict even greater damage on the global economy.

In an interview with the Times of India, Dimon remarked:

 "Moving from zero to 2% was hardly a significant increase. While going from zero to 5% may have caught some people off guard, no one would have considered 5% entirely out of the realm of possibility. I'm uncertain if the world is prepared for 7%."

He further added:

 "If they decide to combine lower volumes with higher rates, it's bound to place stress on the system."

A scenario with rates at 7% and stagflation, characterized by persistent high inflation and unemployment, would heighten the risk of the U.S. economy slipping into a recession. This would be detrimental for risk assets such as technology stocks and cryptocurrencies. Additionally, prolonged tightening measures would propel U.S. Treasury yields, which are already at multi-decade highs, posing a threat to divert capital away from high-risk investments.

Dimon's remarks challenge the prevailing belief that the Fed's tightening cycle has reached its peak. The central bank has indicated its intention to maintain higher borrowing costs for an extended period.

Read more: Cryptocurrency Oversight Act Unveiled