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The Daily Economy

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Weekly Money Quiz: October 31 — 5 questions on the Fed, ECB and Intel

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By The Daily Economy editorial team

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A split Fed, a surprise exit at the ECB and a historic sell-off in Intel made this one of the busiest weeks of the year. Test yourself with five quick questions — the answers are hidden until you click.

Question 1: The Fed’s decision

On 28 October the US Federal Reserve left interest rates unchanged. At what target range did it hold its benchmark rate?

  • A. 3.25%–3.50%
  • B. 3.75%–4.00%
  • C. 4.25%–4.50%
  • D. 5.25%–5.50%
Show the answer

Answer: B. The Fed held its range at 3.75%–4.00% in a 10–2 vote. The two dissenters, Governor Lisa Cook and Cleveland Fed President Beth Hammack, wanted a quarter-point hike, and markets now see a December increase as likely. Read what it means for savers in The Fed held rates. Is your money really growing?

Question 2: A change at the top of the ECB

Christine Lagarde announced on 29 October that she will step down early as president of the European Central Bank. When will she leave?

  • A. 31 December 2026
  • B. 1 May 2027
  • C. 7 February 2027
  • D. 31 October 2027, at the end of her term
Show the answer

Answer: C. The ECB confirmed Lagarde will step down on 7 February 2027, roughly nine months before her eight-year term ends. The timing lets EU leaders choose her successor before France’s presidential election next spring. On the same day the ECB kept its deposit rate at 2.50%. Sources: the ECB press release and our Morning Briefing of 30 October.

Question 3: How fast did the US economy grow?

According to the first official estimate released on 29 October, at what annualised pace did US real GDP grow in the third quarter of 2026?

  • A. 3.4%
  • B. 1.4%
  • C. 2.2%
  • D. 5.1%
Show the answer

Answer: A. Real GDP grew at a 3.4% annualised rate, faster than forecast and up from 2.2% in the second quarter. The catch: the PCE price index, the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge, rose 3.6% from a year earlier in September, which keeps pressure on interest rates. More in our Morning Briefing of 30 October.

Question 4: A historic day for Intel

Intel shares suffered their worst day since 1974 on 30 October after a weak sales outlook. Roughly how much did the stock fall?

  • A. About 5%
  • B. About 12%
  • C. About 18%
  • D. About 29%
Show the answer

Answer: D. Intel fell about 29% after guiding fourth-quarter revenue to $15–16 billion, below Wall Street’s forecasts, and warning that the PC slowdown would last into next year. The drop helped push the Nasdaq down about 2.9% on the day. Read more in our Morning Briefing of 31 October.

Question 5: Power bills in Virginia

In its new 20-year plan, Dominion Energy projected how much a typical Virginia residential electricity bill could rise by 2046?

  • A. About 15%
  • B. About 30%
  • C. About 57%
  • D. About 120%
Show the answer

Answer: C. Dominion’s long-term plan projects residential bills rising by about 57% over the next two decades, as the utility plans new solar farms and gas plants to meet fast-growing demand, including from data centres. Projections are not final rates: any increases still go before Virginia regulators. Details in Dominion projects Virginia power bills up 57% by 2046.

How did you do? 5/5: you’re a markets pro · 3–4: well informed · 0–2: catch up with our Morning Briefing.

Want to go deeper? Look up any term in our glossary or try our money tools.

Written by The Daily Economy editorial team with AI assistance and checked against the linked sources. Read our editorial policy.