Trump Vows Substantial India Tariff Hike | Balance of Power: Early Edition 8/04/2025

Financial Markets Overview - The Dow is up 12% [1] - The S&P is up almost 14% [1] - NASDAQ is surging 18% [1] - The Bloomberg MAG Seven Index is up 19% [1] - Spot gold is up eight dollars the ounce, 3371% [1] - West Texas Intermediate crude is down 15% to 6629% [1] US Economic Policy & BLS - President Trump intends to announce a new Fed Governor and BLS Commissioner soon [1] - The President alleges the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data was rigged, but no evidence has been provided [1][2] - The former BLS chief is out, and the President will nominate a replacement [1] - Congress has been starving the statistical agencies of cash for years [2] - The response rate for the first May survey, which was revised downward significantly by the third one in July, was 42%, The final number was 89% response rate [2] Federal Reserve Board - Adriana Googler's departure creates an opportunity to nominate a new Fed Governor [1] - Jay Powell could stay on as governor until 2028, even if his term as chair is over in 2026 [2] - The market would assume that whoever is chosen would be that [2] International Trade & Tariffs - President Trump said he would hike India's tariff rate for buying Russian oil [1] - India responded, saying the targeting of the country is unjustified and unreasonable and will take necessary measures to safeguard its interests [1] - The PURL is a financing mechanism worth about 500 million euros, 570 $8 million [10] US-NATO-Ukraine - The U S would be providing more weaponry to Ukraine, but that distribution would be handled by NATO, and that NATO countries would pay for it [8] - The announcement of 570 $8 million worth of American weapons, munitions going to the Netherlands and then provided to the Ukraine is a big step forward [11]