1.   From copper to cotton, a slowdown in Asia cooled demand growth for raw materials.

2.   Higher rates can cool economic growth by raising borrowing costs, slowing corporate expansion and decreasing the desirability of owning stock.

3.   However, higher rates cool economic growth by raising the cost of borrowing and dampening consumer spending.

4.   Strong growth typically prompts central banks to raise rates to cool growth and avoid inflation.

5.   The cut came after the central bank raised the funds rate seven times beginning early last year in a bid to cool economic growth and restrain inflation.

6.   The Fed raises interest rates to cool economic growth in order to check inflation.

7.   Weakening currencies threaten to keep interest rates up, eroding corporate profits and cooling economic growth.

8.   Weakening currencies threaten to keep interest rates high, eroding corporate profits and cooling economic growth.

9.   Higher interest rates increase the cost of borrowing for consumers and corporations and can cool economic growth.