早盘：美股继续下滑 道指下跌180点

Group 1 - The U.S. stock market continued to decline, with the Dow Jones dropping 187.51 points, or 0.38%, to 49,316.56 points, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq also experienced slight declines [1] - Bank stocks, particularly those involved in credit card operations like Citigroup, JPMorgan Chase, and Bank of America, fell sharply following President Trump's demand to set a credit card interest rate cap at 10% for one year [1] - Concerns have been raised that Trump's plan to lower credit card interest rates may backfire, potentially limiting bank lending and harming both consumer interests and bank profitability [1] Group 2 - The Cboe Volatility Index (VIX) rose, indicating increased market fear as traders added hedging positions in response to the investigation of Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell [2] - Powell confirmed that federal prosecutors are investigating his testimony regarding the Fed's office renovation project, framing it as another attempt by Trump to influence monetary policy [2] - Market reactions suggest that the independence of the Federal Reserve is a significant concern, with traders instinctively selling off assets in response to news that could undermine this independence [2] Group 3 - It is widely expected that the Federal Reserve will pause further interest rate cuts in its upcoming meeting, as it assesses inflation and economic trends for the new year [3] - Gold prices surged by 2% as investors sought to hedge against the risks associated with a politically influenced Federal Reserve [3] - The ongoing struggle over central bank independence coincides with the stock market reaching historical highs, with the S&P 500 and Dow Jones both setting record highs recently [3]