Shares of Medical Properties Trust (NYSE: MPW) were jumping 3.5% higher as of 11:15 a.m. ET on Wednesday and rose as much as 6.9% earlier in the day. The gain came after comments from Federal Reserve Board members sparked hopes that interest rate cuts could be on the way in 2024.

Fed governor Christopher Waller stated, "I am increasingly confident that policy is currently well positioned to slow the economy and get inflation back to 2%." Waller added later that there was "no reason" to keep interest rates "really high" if inflation continues to fall. Chicago Fed President Austan Goolsbee appeared to be on the same page, pointing out risks in maintaining interest rates at high levels for too long.

To be sure, the Fed hasn't unequivocally signaled that interest rate cuts are on the way. However, it does sound as if cuts could be on the table in the first half of next year. So what would lower interest rates potentially mean for Medical Properties Trust?

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Source Fool.com