Abby Joseph Cohen, a Columbia Business School professor, says she's concerned about the potentially disruptive economic impact of President Donald Trump's tariffs in the second half of the year, which she sees as being at the level of Smoot-Hawley tariffs. Speaking on "Bloomberg Open Interest," Abby Joseph Cohen also discusses Federal Reserve monetary policy and Palo Alto Networks agreeing to buy CyberArk Software. Sign up for the Economics Daily newsletter to discover what's driving the global economy and ...

Company Performance - Bank of America's traders posted a record second quarter [1] - Revenue from fixed income, currencies, and commodities trading jumped 19% to $325 billion in the three months through June [1] Executive Commentary - Bank of America Chair and CEO Brian Moynihan discusses the state of the US consumer [1] - Brian Moynihan discusses Federal Reserve monetary policy [1] - Brian Moynihan discusses the bank's second-quarter earnings [1] - Moynihan also discusses the bank's utilization of artificial intelligence [1]

Core Insights - The Federal Reserve's monetary policy significantly influences student loan interest rates, particularly through its adjustments to the federal funds rate, which affects borrowing costs across the economy [3][4][5]. Federal Student Loan Interest Rates - Federal student loan interest rates are set by Congress based on the 10-year Treasury note, with a fixed margin added each year. The 10-year Treasury yield is influenced by investor demand rather than the Fed's rate [6][10]. - For the 2025-26 school year, the fixed interest rates for federal student loans are as follows: Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans at 6.39%, Direct Unsubsidized Loans for graduate students at 7.94%, and Direct PLUS loans at 8.94% [17]. Private Student Loan Interest Rates - Private student loans are influenced directly by the prime rate, which moves in tandem with the Federal Reserve's rate decisions. As a result, when the Fed raises rates, private loan rates typically increase [8][9]. - Interest rates among private lenders can vary widely, with typical fixed rates ranging from 2.89% to 17.99% as of October 2025, depending on the lender and the borrower's creditworthiness [13]. Impact of Credit Scores and Co-signers - Federal student loans do not require a minimum credit score or co-signer, while private loans often necessitate a good credit score (mid-600s or higher) for approval. Higher credit scores lead to better loan terms [14][15]. Refinancing Considerations - Refinancing student loans can potentially lower interest rates or consolidate multiple loans into one payment. However, borrowers with federal loans should be cautious, as refinancing with a private lender results in the loss of federal benefits [19][20]. Conclusion - The Federal Reserve plays a crucial role in shaping student loan interest rates, with federal loans offering fixed rates that remain stable for borrowers, while private loans are more susceptible to market fluctuations [22][23].