NEW YORK (Reuters) -Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's closely watched Jackson Hole speech on Friday boosted optimism in markets that the U.S. central bank is poised to ease rates, sending investors to pile into riskier assets and interest-rate-sensitive sectors.

Wall Street cheered remarks from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell in Jackson Hole opening the door to a rate cut in September.

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If inflation starts climbing again after a rate cut, “the Fed will have to reverse course — and in the worst case, start hiking again,” Slok said.

Brent Donnelly of Spectra Markets ran a sizeable survey of expectations for Fed Chair Jerome Powell's speech, and of the 473 responses, 51% expect a neutral-to-boring outcome and 43% see a hawkish tint.

Gold edged down as investors awaited the Federal Reserve’s Jackson Hole gathering for clues on the path for US interest rates.Bullion traded around $3,340 an ounce, paring some of the gains made on Wednesday when President Donald Trump’s call for Fed Governor Lisa Cook to resign bolstered haven demand.