Market & Economic Outlook - The market's muted response to Fed actions may change, particularly concerning the president's ability to fire Lisa Cook [2][3] - Markets anticipate lower short-term rates, expecting it to benefit risk assets [4] - Potential for a stagflation scenario, characterized by recession and rising inflation, similar to the Nixon era [7] Interest Rate Dynamics - A 1 percentage point cumulative decline in the federal funds rate from September to December 2024 saw a 90 basis points increase in the 10-year yield [4][5] - If markets perceive a Fed rate cut as unjustified by inflation expectations, long-term yields may rise, diverging from short-term yields [10][11] - A 50 basis points interest rate cut by Jerome Powell in September of last year was perceived as politically motivated, leading to market skepticism [11][12] Potential Triggers for Yield Increases - Firing of Lisa Cook and replacement with a nominee favoring rate cuts could trigger yield increases due to potential dissents from Jerome Powell [15] - A higher-than-expected PCE inflation report, such as 3.1% instead of the anticipated 2.9%, could cause yields to surge [16] - Presidential stacking of the Fed with favorable nominees, undermining its independence, could also lead to yield increases [17] Timing - The period between September and the end of the year is identified as a potential timeframe for significant market events [18]

Interest Rate & Fed Policy - Potential changes in the Federal Reserve leadership, including the possibility of Lisa Cook being replaced, could influence the market's perception of interest rate policies [1] - The market anticipates that President Trump will appoint someone who favors lower interest rates when Powell's term ends next year [2] - The yield curve is steepening due to expectations of short-term rate cuts, which ironically could increase inflationary pressure in the long run [3] - The focus is on whether inflation is under control, given that governments globally have significant debt and desire lower yields to reduce debt servicing costs [8] - Rate cutting cycles have historically been negative for the equity market, with major corrections or bear markets occurring in six out of the last eight instances [9][10] Inflation & Bond Market - Despite pressure to lower rates, inflation may persist and could become a long-term issue [4] - The gap between the 2-year and 30-year Treasury yields has widened to its largest in several years [4] - If rate cuts stimulate inflation, long-term yields are expected to rise [7] - The bond market may challenge the Fed's policies by selling off, leading to higher yields [13] Global Economic Context - The trend of focusing on inflation being not under control and governments having massive debt piles is happening globally [8] - The Bank of England cut rates, but now they have inflation at an 18-month high, and bond yields have been rising [11] - There is a good chance that a rate-cutting cycle could be initiated because things are breaking down globally [12]

The Dow off by 60 points. And welcome back to Money Movers on CNBC. President Trump moving to fire Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook.It's his latest threat against Fed independence. Joining us now, former Fed Governor Frederick Mishkin and former acting chairman of the Council of Economic Adviserss Toamas Phillips. Gentlemen, good to see you today.The chief economist for New Century Adviserss, Claudia S, uh sent out a pretty attention getting post on X. She says, if we could pull this, pull this up now. Do ...

Monetary Policy & Economic Outlook - The industry remains agnostic on the relative likelihood and danger of inflation and unemployment [1] - The industry observes more pressure on politicization of the Fed than any time in generations [1] - The industry suggests tilting towards concern about maintaining confidence in the long-term commitment to price stability [1] - The industry hopes the Fed will continue to be very much data dependent [2] - The industry is watching carefully what happens both on the inflation statistics and on the unemployment statistics [2] - The industry recognizes some stagflationary impulses working through [2]

Federal Reserve Independence & Policy - The market's calmness is partly attributed to ambiguity surrounding the President's power to fire a Federal Reserve governor and the definition of "for cause" [5] - The core concern for markets is a potential rupture in Fed independence, which could impact decision-making within the central bank [12] - Questioning the Fed's independence could hinder its ability to make decisions aligned with its legislative mandate [13] - An independent Fed is crucial for a well-performing bond market and economy, requiring respect and protection [14] Potential Rate Cuts & Economic Outlook - The Fed chair indicated openness to a potential rate cut in September, but several factors warrant caution, including inflation running above target and upcoming tariffs [16] - The possibility of a rate cut is viewed as roughly 50/50, and there's no strong support for a campaign of rate cuts [18] - Political pressure leading to a rate-cutting campaign to meet the President's requests would be detrimental to the economy, bond markets, and the Fed's credibility [19] Legal & Political Considerations - The legality of the President's actions and whether the alleged cause is sufficient for dismissal will likely be determined by the courts [2][4][10] - If the court ratifies the move, it would significantly impact Fed independence and trust in the institution as inflation fighters [19] - Accommodating political pressure for continuous rate cuts could shake the Fed's credibility, weaken the dollar, and impair the ability to finance US debt [21]

And Danielle, we're just hearing now, according to The Washington Post, Lisa Cook says she will not resign. She disputes President Trump's authority to fire her. She also says that no cause exists for the President to fire her either.This is according to reporting from The Washington Post. So Lisa Cook refusing to step down and disputing the President's authority to force her out. Polka, I do want to return to you now for some more thoughts on this.I mean, what's the more urgent concern for the Fed at the m ...

So, we got some breaking news just as we are coming on the air tonight. President Trump is purporting to have fired a member of the board of governors of the Federal Reserve. Her name is Lisa Cook. She's been a Fed governor since 2022. She is the first black woman to serve on the Fed board and its 111-year history. And in that entire 111 year history, no member of the Fed's board has ever been fired by any president. And that's not because presidents haven't wanted to do it. It's because a president is not ...

Donald Trump has for months sought interest-rate cuts in spite of tariff-driven inflation. The president may soon get what he wants, for Jerome Powell struck a doveish tone at Jackson Hole https://t.co/CRs4jK2V1i ...

Fed Policy & Market Reaction - The market interpreted the Fed's communication as dovish, leading to a significant market rally [1] - The market may be overreacting to the possibility of a rate cut as early as September, as more data is forthcoming [2] - A potential rate cut might be a "hawkish cut," implying a small adjustment or a step towards neutral rather than a series of cuts [3] - The circumstances surrounding a rate cut matter to the market, not just the cut itself [4] Economic Indicators & Inflation - A rate cut could signal that the Fed sees only slight economic weakness and no dramatic weakening in consumer sentiment [5] - Labor market weakness seems to be overshadowing concerns about inflation for the Fed [7] - The Fed appears comfortable with inflation running slightly above its target, but may reconsider its strategy if it exceeds a certain comfort range [8] - The Fed is data-dependent, not on autopilot, and structural changes in the market could force a reconsideration of policy [9] Tariffs & Inflation Expectations - New tariffs, such as those on furniture, add complexity and could lead to a series of rolling price increases, potentially influencing inflation expectations [10][11] - If consumers consistently see price increases, they may believe inflation is returning, which should influence the Fed's policy stance [12]

🚨 BREAKING:Fed sends mixed signals heading into Q4 📊Powell’s Jackson Hole remarks raise fresh debates on inflation, interest rates—and the long-term path for #crypto beyond 2025. ...