NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks churned between gains and losses on Wednesday but ultimately remained near their record levels. The S&P 500 slipped 0.1% and hung near its all-time high set at the start of the week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 260 points, or 0.6%, while the Nasdaq composite fell 0.3%. The swings came after the Federal Reserve cut its main interest rate for the first time this year. That move was no surprise for Wall Street, which was widely expecting it. More important was the set o ...

Do you believe the Federal Reserve is an independent body. What what do you think about the independent. Oh, it should be.It should be, but I think they should listen to smart people like me. I think I have a better instinct than him. If you look, all the economists got it wrong.I got it right along with one other people out of a hundred. So, they should listen to people that are smart. Nothing wrong with that.But they have to make their own choice. But they should listen. The Federal Reserve in the hot sea ...

Consequential debates over the path ahead on rates are being upstaged by political theater, including a legal fight over Fed independence and a 'beauty contest' succession drama. ...

Core Viewpoint - The vote represents a significant accomplishment for the White House, highlighting a unique arrangement where Miran will remain in his White House position on unpaid leave while also taking on responsibilities at the central bank [1] Group 1 - The arrangement allows for continuity in the White House while also addressing central bank needs [1] - Miran's dual role may influence monetary policy decisions and economic strategies [1] - The decision reflects the administration's approach to integrating government roles for efficiency [1]

US stocks pulled back slightly from records on Tuesday as a retail sales update showed Americans continuing to spend despite a weakening labor market and the Senate confirmed President Trump's pick, Stephen Miran, as a Federal Reserve board governor. The benchmark S&P 500 (^GSPC) and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) fell less than 0.1%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) dipped nearly 0.3%. In an otherwise light week on economic data, on Tuesday, investors received the latest figures o ...

Core Viewpoint - The nomination of Stephen Miran to the Federal Reserve Board of Governors raises concerns about the independence of the Fed, particularly in light of President Trump's pressure to cut interest rates [3][5]. Group 1: Nomination Process - A procedural vote on Miran's nomination is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. ET, followed by a final confirmation vote at around 8 p.m. [2] - If confirmed, Miran plans to take an unpaid leave from his current role as chair of the White House's Council of Economic Advisors [2]. Group 2: Market Expectations and Fed Independence - Markets anticipate the Fed will cut interest rates for the first time since December 2024, but the extent of the cuts remains uncertain [3]. - Fed Chair Jerome Powell has resisted Trump's pressure but indicated that economic conditions may justify rate cuts at the upcoming meeting [4]. - Critics argue that Miran's appointment could influence the committee's decisions and undermine the Fed's independence from the White House [5]. Group 3: Term and Resignation - Miran was nominated to fill the seat vacated by Governor Adriana Kugler, who resigned in August, and would serve until January 31, when Kugler's term was set to expire [6]. - Miran stated that if he were to be nominated and confirmed for a longer term, he would resign from his current position [6].

It's Fed week and the battle is heating up. Today, the Senate votes on President Trump's pick for the Federal Reserve Board, Steven Myron. If confirmed, he could be in his seat by tomorrow's meeting just as the Fed is expected to cut interest rates.Welcome to the Big Money Show. I'm Brian Brenberg along with my co-hosts Lou Bassin, Lydia Who, Jackie D'Angelus, and with us for the hour, making money host Charles Payne. Welcome one and all.All right, President Trump writing on True Social that Fed Chairman Je ...

Let's now ask New York Life's Lauren Goodwin. She joins us now. Lauren, record highs for the S&P and NASDAQ.It's like a broken record at this point. Did anybody, including yourself, really expect that we were going to see this constant ratcheting up. Not massively so, but a slow meltup of record highs throughout the course of 2025.I don't think so. Especially not after liberation day. And my estimation is that we are likely to see market jitters associated with all the policy change that we've been getting ...

Core Viewpoint - Financial markets are anticipating a Federal Reserve interest rate cut, with mixed outlooks for the S&P 500 as it continues its rally [1] Group 1: Analyst Perspectives - Morgan Stanley's Michael Wilson highlights risks from weak labor data and slower Fed actions but maintains a long-term bullish outlook, projecting the S&P 500 could rise by 9% to 7,200 points by mid-2026 [2] - JPMorgan warns that the market's resilience may not endure against soft economic indicators, suggesting equities could reassess valuations once the Fed resumes easing [3] - Oppenheimer's John Stoltzfus acknowledges a potential near-term dip post-rate decision but expects any weakness to be temporary due to the overall strength of the U.S. economy [4] Group 2: Economic Concerns - Strategists express concerns that a modest rate cut may not sufficiently address signs of economic slowdown, particularly in the labor market, with inflation remaining above the Fed's 2% target [5] - Despite these concerns, the S&P 500 maintains a bullish trend, primarily driven by gains in technology stocks [5]

Group 1 - The Federal Reserve is expected to cut interest rates by 25 basis points this week, with a strong consensus among traders [1] - The upcoming summary of economic projections will provide guidance on the Fed's interest rate outlook for the remainder of the year and into 2026 and 2027, with a debate on whether there will be one or two additional cuts [2] - The previous forecast indicated two cuts with an unemployment rate projected at 4.5% by year-end, suggesting a stable unemployment outlook despite rate cuts [3] Group 2 - The labor market has shown signs of weakness, with payroll employment growth averaging only 30,000 per month over the last three months, raising concerns about potential further deterioration [5][6] - The market anticipates a decline in rates not only this year but also in 2026 and 2027, with federal funds futures indicating a drop to around 3% by the end of next year [7] - There is a belief that the current financial conditions are already very accommodative, and the economy is not in a severe downturn, which may temper the extent of future rate cuts [8] Group 3 - The market perceives the reasons for cutting rates as compelling, with inflation impacts from tariffs being smaller than expected and labor market weakness being significant [11] - There is uncertainty regarding how far the Fed will go with rate cuts in the medium to long term, with some market participants potentially being overly optimistic [12] - The influence of the Trump administration on the Fed's independence could lead to lower rates but also higher inflation [13] Group 4 - The upcoming meeting is expected to have a consensus on the direction of rates, with minimal dissent anticipated regarding the decision to cut rates [16][17] - The presence of diverse views within the Federal Reserve is seen as beneficial for robust debate on monetary policy frameworks [18] - The dynamics of the meeting involve discussions on the economy and monetary policy, with all members reviewing the same information, leading to generally small disagreements [20][22]