The dramatic escalation of pressure by the White House on the Federal Reserve and Chair Jerome Powell to lower interest rates is ticking off billionaire Michael Bloomberg. Bloomberg is the founder and majority owner of Bloomberg LP, the parent company of Bloomberg News, and the founder of Bloomberg Philanthropies. He’s also the former mayor of New York City whose name has been bandied about frequently as a possible presidential candidate. I’m reminding you of this right up front as a gentle reminder of ...

New Year, new hope for Bitcoin. After several months of sputtering, Bitcoin is back on the rise. On Wednesday, the original cryptocurrency surpassed $97,000 for the first time in two months and is up more than 6% in the last week. The jump in Bitcoin came after Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell issued a remarkable statement that accused President Donald Trump’s administration of directing a baseless criminal investigation at him in order to intimidate the agency. Meanwhile, the price of gold and other p ...

Group 1: Credit Card Lending and Banking Sector - There are concerns that capping credit card rates at 10% could restrict lending, particularly affecting those who rely on credit cards [3][9] - Banks may be compelled to improve their optics regarding credit card lending, which could reduce their ability to lend, impacting their core business [9] - The banking sector is currently facing scrutiny for high credit card interest rates, with rates reaching 20-30% [2][3] Group 2: Federal Reserve Independence - The independence of the Federal Reserve is perceived to be under attack, which could have significant implications for monetary policy [4][5] - There is skepticism about the likelihood of congressional approval for any measures that would fix credit card rates, indicating a potential lack of political will to intervene in banking practices [7] Group 3: Economic Outlook and Labor Market - The labor market is showing signs of distress, with rising unemployment expected to reach 5% by mid-year, indicating a potential recession [16][20] - There is a disconnect between GDP performance and job losses, suggesting that the economy may already be in a recession despite not being officially recognized [19][20] - The current economic environment is characterized by layoffs and bankruptcies at 15-year highs, raising concerns about the overall health of the economy [16][17] Group 4: Stock Market Dynamics - The stock market remains resilient, with passive investing driving demand for large-cap stocks, despite underlying economic challenges [22][24] - There is a notable disparity between the stock market performance and the economic reality faced by the majority of consumers, particularly the lower 90% of earners [23][22] - Investors are advised to hedge their portfolios and consider dividend-paying investments as interest rates are expected to continue falling [24][25]

分组1 - The article critiques Jay Powell's tenure as Fed chairman, highlighting his failure to meet inflation targets and suggesting his actions were politically motivated [1][2][3] - There are allegations of insider trading and ethical breaches among other Fed officials, but Powell is not directly implicated in criminal activities [2][3] - The article notes that Republican senators will not confirm a new Fed chairman until existing subpoenas are resolved, indicating a political stalemate [4] 分组2 - Despite the controversies surrounding the Fed, the market reaction has been muted, with the 10-year Treasury auction performing well and major indices like the S&P and Dow reaching all-time highs [5] - The economy is reported to be growing at rates of 5% or better, potentially reaching 6% or 7% due to tax cuts and deregulation, alongside significant productivity growth of over 4% [6] - The article emphasizes that the U.S. economy is currently experiencing a positive oil shock, contributing to its status as the hottest economy globally [7]

Market Analysis by covering: Crude Oil WTI Futures, Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp, Federal National Mortgage Association. Read 's Market Analysis on Investing.com ...

Market focus this week will be on economic news and any fresh news on the Federal Reserve. On Tuesday, Dec CPI is expected to remain unchanged from Nov at +2.7% y/y and Dec core CPI is expected to edge higher to +2.7% y/y from +2.6% y/y in Nov. Also, Oct new home sales are expected to fall -10.6% m/m to 715,000. On Wednesday, Nov PPI final demand is expected to increase +2.7% y/y, and Nov core PPI is also expected to climb by +2.7% y/y. Also, Nov retail sales are expected to have increased +0.5% m/m and +0. ...

Well, it's certainly not the news one expects to drop on a Sunday night, but here I am, watching playoff football, as I read that the DOJ has launched a criminal investigation into Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell over the headquarters renovations. Yes, you read thatTo follow me click the "Follow" button! (Easy right?) Hi there, thanks for coming to my profile page! My name is Kumquat Research (but you can call me Jeremy) and I've been writing for Seeking Alpha on and off for going on ten years now, b ...

The dollar index (DXY00) rose to a 1-week high on Tuesday and finished up by +0.18%.  The dollar found support Tuesday from better-than-expected US economic news on home prices and the Dec MNI Chicago PMI.  Also, higher T-note yields on Tuesday have strengthened the dollar’s interest rate differentials.  The dollar extended its gains Tuesday afternoon from the slightly hawkish minutes of the December 9-10 FOMC meeting. Questions about the Fed’s independence are limiting gains in the dollar after Preside ...

You know, there there's a lot of there's a lot of drama with the Fed and usually it's just, you know, will they raise interest rates. Will they cut interest rates. Will they hold interest rates.But now it's like we don't even know what the makeup of the committee or who the chair is going to be. What What do you think is the biggest wild card at this point into 2026 on the Fed. >> I think there are two or three wild cards.One is just the state of the economy. The data coming in has been uh mixed, shall we s ...

Core Viewpoint - Gold and silver prices are reaching all-time highs due to escalating geopolitical tensions and macroeconomic conditions that are expected to persist, driven by central bank diversification into gold and increased demand from ETFs [1][2][6]. Geopolitical Factors - Ongoing geopolitical tensions, such as the situation in Venezuela and rising militancy in Nigeria, are contributing to a renewed risk premium in the market [2][3]. - Concerns regarding the independence of the Federal Reserve and potential fiscal issues, including a Supreme Court tariff decision, could further impact market dynamics [3]. Market Dynamics - Central banks are expected to maintain a structural demand for gold as they diversify away from dollar assets, which is anticipated to support prices for years [2]. - White metals have been added to the critical minerals list, raising the possibility of tariffs that could influence market conditions [4]. Demand from ETFs - ETFs have significantly increased their purchases of gold, surpassing central bank buying for the first time in five years, indicating strong retail interest in the market [6][7]. - This influx of ETF investment is seen as a potential tailwind for gold prices, although it also poses risks of sharp market corrections if sentiment shifts [7][8]. Economic Considerations - A potential reacceleration of the economy, driven by tax reforms from the Trump administration, could positively impact industrial metals like platinum, silver, and copper [5].