A Changing of the Guard: Powell Out, Hassett Favored

Group 1 - Jerome Powell's term as Federal Reserve Chair will end in May 2026, having been in the position since 2018 [1] - Powell has faced significant challenges during his tenure, including the COVID-19 crash, inflation spikes, and banking sector concerns [1] - The legacy of Powell's leadership is viewed differently across the political spectrum, with right-leaning critics highlighting perceived monetary policy hypocrisy and budget overruns on renovations [2][3] Group 2 - President Trump has indicated he will announce the next Federal Reserve Chair soon, despite previously threatening to fire Powell [4] - Kevin Hassett is currently the favorite to be nominated as the next Fed Chair, with his odds increasing from approximately 40% to 75% recently [5] - A Hassett-led Federal Reserve is expected to be bullish for stocks, particularly for interest-rate-sensitive companies like JP Morgan, Home Depot, and others [8]