By cutting the outlook for rate hikes this year, Fed Chair Janet Yellen just put a fire hose to the volatility, says one Wall Street strategist.
"I'm shocked by Wednesday's statements and press conference because it's much more dovish than the market was expecting and I think that's going to keep the VIX at bay for now," Larry McDonald, managing director and head of global macro strategy at ACG analytics, told CNBC's "Trading Nation" on Wednesday.
In a news conference Wednesday afternoon Yellen said global economic and financial developments continue to pose risks to the U.S., and revised down her path for further interest rate increases.
"I think they have literally taken the fire hose out and kept it on, and I think that really shocked a lot of people," added McDonald.
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Yellen's comments sent stocks higher Wednesday as the , commonly referred to as the market's fear gauge, hit a year-to-date low early in the session. The S&P 500 is currently tracking for its first positive month since November.
"I think right now we're in a period where the market is going to drift higher," David Seaburg said Wednesday, also on "Trading Nation.
According to Seaburg, with the central bank meetings behind us for now and the following catalyst for stocks being next earnings season, the markets could continue to gain momentum to the upside.
"I think we are in a period of very low volatility and a move higher will be the best-case scenario," said the head of sales trading at Cowen and Co. The official kickoff to the next earnings season is less than a month away.
