Core Viewpoint - The financial sector, particularly credit card issuers, is currently experiencing stock price declines despite potential long-term profitability due to proposed regulatory changes on interest rates [2][8]. Group 1: Impact of Proposed Interest Rate Cap - President Trump proposed a one-year, 10% cap on credit card interest rates, effective January 20, which has led to significant declines in stock prices of major credit card issuers [2][3]. - Major credit card issuers such as Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, American Express, Capital One Financial, and Citigroup saw stock declines ranging from 4.5% to 9.9% following the announcement [9]. - Payment networks Visa and Mastercard also experienced stock drops of 8% and 6.9%, respectively, indicating a broader impact on the financial sector [4]. Group 2: Historical Context and Legislative Challenges - Previous attempts to cap credit card interest rates have failed, with a similar proposal by Senator Bernie Sanders stalling in Congress last year [5][6]. - The financial industry is expected to strongly oppose the current proposal, suggesting that it is unlikely to be enacted [6][7]. - Analysts predict that the banking industry will effectively counter this proposal before it gains traction [7].

Core Viewpoint - The White House is considering an executive action to implement President Donald Trump's proposal for capping credit card interest rates, as reported by Bloomberg News, citing sources familiar with the matter [1] Group 1 - The potential executive action reflects the administration's focus on consumer financial protection [1] - The move could significantly impact credit card companies and their interest rate structures [1] - This initiative aligns with broader efforts to address consumer debt and financial burdens [1]

Core Viewpoint - The Trump administration is proposing a 10% cap on credit card interest rates, which has faced opposition from the financial services industry due to concerns over access to credit for millions of consumers [1][2]. Group 1: Proposal Details - President Trump announced a proposed 10% cap on credit card interest rates, set to take effect on January 20, coinciding with the anniversary of his second inauguration [1]. - The proposal may require Congressional action and has been met with significant pushback from the financial services sector [2]. Group 2: Industry Response - National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett indicated that discussions with major banks have included a "Trump card" aimed at expanding credit access for consumers [3][6]. - Hassett mentioned that large banks are supportive of the idea, suggesting they could voluntarily offer credit to consumers who are financially stable but currently lack access [6]. Group 3: Impact Analysis - The Electronic Payments Coalition (EPC) analyzed the potential impact of the proposed interest rate cap, estimating that 82% to 88% of credit card holders could lose their cards or face significant reductions in credit limits, particularly affecting low- to moderate-income consumers [9]. - EPC's analysis projected that nearly all credit card accounts linked to credit scores below 740 would be closed or severely restricted, impacting approximately 175 million to 190 million credit card holders [10]. - JPMorgan Chase's CFO warned that the proposed cap could lead to reduced access to credit, negatively affecting both consumers and the broader economy [13][14].

Bank executives are tiptoeing around President Trump's call to temporarily cap credit-card interest rates at 10%, opposing the idea while making sure not to antagonize the White House. ...

We recently published 9 Stocks Jim Cramer Talked About.  American Express Company (NYSE:AXP) is one of the stocks on Jim Cramer talked about. American Express Company (NYSE:AXP) is one of the biggest card payment and travel services companies in America. Its shares are up. by 14.7% over the past year, but are down by 3.8% year-to-date. Media reports suggest that American Express Company (NYSE:AXP)’s shares fell after President Trump suggested a 10% interest rate cap for credit card companies as part of hi ...

Core Viewpoint - President Trump's unexpected request for credit card companies to set a cap on interest rates at 10% could significantly impact the profitability of the financial sector, leading to a decline in financial stocks and raising concerns among bank executives during earnings calls [1][4]. Financial Sector Impact - The proposed interest rate cap is half of the current average rate on outstanding balances, potentially erasing billions in profits for credit card issuers [1]. - Major banks such as Capital One (COF.US), JPMorgan Chase (JPM.US), and American Express (AXP.US) experienced significant stock declines following the announcement [1]. - Analysts from KBW indicated that if the policy is implemented, it would severely weaken the profitability of credit card issuers and could trigger economic repercussions [4]. Legislative Developments - Trump has called for Congressional support for the Credit Card Competition Act, which targets the nearly $200 billion in swipe fees charged by banks and payment companies, negatively affecting stocks of Visa (V.US) and Mastercard (MA.US) [4]. - Some analysts doubt the feasibility of the interest rate cap, suggesting that the probability of it being enacted is less than 20% due to the lack of legislative support [4]. Broader Economic Effects - Bank executives have warned that the interest rate cap could lead to a significant economic slowdown and push consumers towards unregulated lending sources [5]. - The proposed changes are expected to have ripple effects beyond the financial sector, impacting industries such as airlines and retail, which rely on partnerships with credit card companies for substantial revenue [7]. - Airlines like Delta (DAL.US) and United Airlines (UAL.US) saw stock declines, as did retailers like Macy's (M.US) and Kohl's (KSS.US), due to concerns over the potential impact of the proposed legislation [7].

Financial Sector - The financial sector experienced a significant downturn following President Trump's announcement of a one-year cap of 10% on credit card interest rates, effective January 20, 2026, aimed at protecting consumers from high rates averaging around 20% [2][3] - Major financial institutions like JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Citigroup, and Wells Fargo saw their stock prices drop significantly, with JPMorgan's shares falling 4.2% to $310.90 despite better-than-expected earnings [3][4] - Consumer finance firms specializing in credit cards faced even steeper declines, with drops between 8% and 11% for companies like Synchrony Financial and Capital One, while Visa and Mastercard also saw declines of over 2% [4] Semiconductor Industry - A trade deal between the U.S. and Taiwan resulted in a reduction of tariffs on Taiwanese goods from 20% to 15%, in exchange for Taiwan's commitment to invest $250 billion in U.S. semiconductor and AI sectors [6][7] - Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. reported a 35% year-over-year increase in fourth-quarter profit, leading to a 4.5% surge in its U.S.-listed shares, with trading volume increasing by 159% [7] - Despite a new 25% tariff on specific high-end AI chips, Nvidia's stock rebounded by around 3% due to positive earnings from TSMC and exemptions for companies investing in America [8][9] Healthcare Sector - President Trump introduced "The Great Healthcare Plan" aimed at lowering prescription drug prices and insurance premiums, but the lack of details and the need for Congressional approval left the market skeptical [10] - Some healthcare stocks like UnitedHealth Group and Cigna saw modest gains, but the overall market impact was minimal due to concerns over rising premium costs for millions of Americans [10] Geopolitical Developments - President Trump's announcement of a "Board of Peace" in Gaza and withdrawal from 66 global organizations had little immediate market impact, overshadowed by economic news [11] - Oil prices dropped approximately 5% following Trump's de-escalation of military threats against Iran, indicating a positive market reaction to reduced geopolitical tensions [11] Market Volatility - The week illustrated the unpredictable nature of the market under Trump's administration, characterized by sudden policy announcements and immediate market reactions, creating a challenging environment for investors [12]

President Donald Trump has unveiled a series of initiatives over the past two weeks to address the ongoing affordability crisis affecting millions of Americans, including proposing a cap on credit card interest at 10% on January 9. The news hit credit card stocks hard, triggering a widespread sell-off, including American Express (AXP). A 10% cap on interest charged by credit card issuers would undeniably mark a significant change, givenBankratecalculates the average rate as of January 14 is 19.6%. A cap ...

Core Viewpoint - President Trump's proposed plan to cap credit card rates at 10% has significantly impacted the financial sector, leading to a notable decline in the shares of banks and credit card companies [1] Group 1: Impact on Financial Sector - The proposed cap on credit card rates has caused substantial fluctuations in the stock prices of financial institutions [1] - Banks and credit card companies experienced a sizeable hit in their share values following the announcement of the plan [1]

Core Viewpoint - Major banks oppose President Trump's proposal to cap credit card interest rates at 10%, arguing it could limit consumer access to credit and negatively impact economic growth [1][4]. Group 1: Financial Impact on Banks - Profits in the credit card segment are four times the banking industry average, with lenders earning interest on $1.23 trillion in outstanding U.S. credit card debt at an average annual interest rate of 21% [2]. - Executives from major banks, including JPMorgan Chase and Citigroup, expressed concerns that a cap on interest rates would severely restrict access to credit for consumers, particularly those who need it most, potentially leading to negative consequences for the economy [5]. Group 2: Market Reactions - Shares of major financial service firms declined following the announcement of the proposed interest rate cap, indicating investor concern over the potential impact on profitability [4]. - Some analysts view the drop in share prices as a potential buying opportunity for investors [4]. Group 3: Shift in Consumer Behavior - Experts suggest that if an interest rate cap is enacted, consumers may shift their focus to other financial products, such as personal loans, which could benefit companies like LendingTree [3][5]. - The proposed cap could disrupt the credit card rewards and points system, leading to broader changes in consumer behavior and spending patterns [3].