PLEASE tell me who writes this garbage!!!!! So now stocks are headed lower because the chance of a rate hike is long gone....its been long gone for quite sometime now, dont expect a rate cut until end of 2007 early 2008, with this news dont expect it until mid 2008. Stocks Down Sharply After Home Sales Data AP - Wall Street retreated Thursday after new housing data showed sales surged in April by the largest amount in 14 years, damping hopes that an interest rate cut would be needed to stimulate the economy.