Di Yi Cai Jing Zi Xun·2026-01-15 02:05Core Viewpoint - The U.S. banking sector is experiencing strong growth in net interest income and trading activities, yet stock prices are declining due to concerns over President Trump's credit card policy and skepticism regarding the government's lawsuit against Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell [2]. Group 1: Loan Demand and Economic Resilience - Analysts from S&P Global Market Intelligence express optimism for the banking industry's growth momentum through 2026, estimating a significant increase in overall loan volume by 5.3% year-on-year by the end of 2025 [3]. - Despite the Trump administration's tariffs, the U.S. economy and consumers show resilience, partly due to the AI industry boom and the Federal Reserve's interest rate cuts, with expectations of two more rate cuts this year [3]. - Bank of America reports an 8% year-on-year increase in average loan volume, with net interest income reaching a record high of $15.9 billion, indicating positive signals for both the banking sector and the overall economy [3]. - JPMorgan Chase's loan volume increased by 9% year-on-year in Q4, with CEO Jamie Dimon expressing optimism about the economic outlook for the next six to twelve months [3]. Group 2: Credit Card Rate Cap Concerns - The banking sector faces potential growth challenges amid rising geopolitical tensions and policy uncertainties, particularly regarding President Trump's unexpected proposal to cap credit card interest rates at 10% [5]. - Bank executives worry that setting a cap on credit card rates could lead to tighter credit availability, negatively impacting economic growth [6]. - Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan warns that a cap on credit card rates could restrict access to credit for those who need it most [6]. - Citigroup CFO Mark Mason notes that the lack of specific implementation details makes it premature to assess the potential impact of the rate cap policy [6]. Group 3: Defending Federal Reserve Independence - Following the investigation into Federal Reserve Chairman Powell by the Trump administration, many in the banking sector advocate for the Fed's independence, citing potential economic uncertainties from political interference [7]. - JPMorgan CEO Dimon warns that political meddling in the Fed's decisions could raise market inflation expectations and lead to higher interest rates in the long run [7]. - Bank of America and Citigroup executives emphasize the critical importance of the Fed's independence for the U.S. economy [8].