Gold and silver surged to fresh record highs Monday as investors reassessed the Federal Reserve's independence fears amid a new political escalation. • MACOM Technology stok is approaching key resistance levels. What’s behind MTSI new highs?Gold prices — as tracked by the SPDR Gold Shares (NYSE:GLD) — jumped 2.5% to $4,620 an ounce, setting another all-time high. Silver also soared more than 7% to $86 an ounce, extending its 12-month rally to over 190%The move followed reports that the Department of Justice ...

A group of former Federal Reserve chairs and Treasury secretaries released a joint statement defending Fed Chair Jerome Powell after he revealed the Trump administration's Justice Department is threatening to criminally indict him over his testimony about the Fed's renovations. The group includes former Fed Chairs Ben Bernanke, Allen Greenspan and Janet Yellen, as well as former Treasury Secretaries Timothy Geithner and Henry Paulson, plus several former chairs of the Council of Economic Advisers who served ...

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department has threatened the Federal Reserve with a criminal indictment over the testimony of Fed Chair Jerome Powell this summer regarding its building renovations, Powell said over the weekend. It is a major escalation by the administration after repeated attempts by President Donald Trump to exert greater control over the independent institution. Trump has repeatedly attacked Powell for not cutting its short-term interest rate, and even threatened to fire him. Powell’s ...

Former Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke speaks after he was named among three U.S. economists awarded the 2022 Nobel Economics Prize, during a news conference at the Brookings Institution in Washington, October 10, 2022."This is how monetary policy is made in emerging markets with weak institutions, with highly negative consequences for inflation and the functioning of their economies more broadly," it continued. "It has no place in the United States whose greatest strength is the rule of law, which is ...

The S&P 500 edged down by 0.1% from its all-time high as U.S. stocks drifted through mixed morning trading, while prices for gold and other investments that tend to do well when investors are nervous rose. The value of the U.S. dollar also dipped against the euro and other currencies amid concerns that the Fed may have less independence in setting The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 179 points, or 0.4%, as of 10 a.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite was nearly unchanged.Some of the market's sha ...

ab Global Research 2 January 2026 US Economics Weekly We expect a bumpy 2026 Economic Comment: another volatile year for macro In this week's economic comment we updated our outlook for the federal funds rate for 2026, pushing back expected rate cuts, based on our projection for the December employment report and the inflation data we expect to see in the first half of the year. We also take stock of the expansion's fragility. It's hard to get too bearish expecting a bumper tax refund season thanks to OBBBA ...

Core Insights - The Federal Reserve is facing a challenging 2026 with mixed economic signals and a leadership change as President Trump prepares to appoint a new Fed chair [1][9] - Analysts predict that the Fed may lower interest rates a couple of times due to signs of a weakening economy, particularly highlighted by the November jobs report [1][4] - The internal dynamics of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) will play a crucial role in shaping interest rate decisions, with potential divisions among members [3][9] Economic Indicators - The labor market is showing signs of softening, with unemployment rising to 4.6% in November and only 64,000 jobs added [4] - Despite this, consumer spending and investments in artificial intelligence are contributing to overall GDP growth, which may mitigate risks to the labor market [4] - Economic data is expected to become less supportive of lower rates by mid-2026, complicating the Fed's decision-making process [4] Leadership Changes - Trump's nominee for Fed chair is expected to be finalized soon, with potential candidates including Fed Governor Chris Waller, former Fed Governor Kevin Warsh, and economist Kevin Hassett [6][7] - Betting markets suggest that Hassett is the most likely pick, raising concerns about his alignment with Trump's aggressive interest rate cut agenda [7] - The new Fed chair will need to navigate a divided committee, as past votes indicate challenges in achieving consensus on rate cuts [3][9] Federal Reserve Structure - The FOMC consists of 12 regional district heads who provide local perspectives, and their appointments have been secured for the next five years, enhancing the Fed's perceived independence [17][18] - The influence of the administration on the FOMC is expected to increase as Trump may have opportunities to appoint additional members to the Fed's Board of Governors [13][14] - Powell's future as Fed chair remains uncertain, with his term ending in May 2026, but he may choose to remain on the board to reinforce the Fed's independence [15][16]

Key Takeaways There's also the question of what will happen with current board member Stephen Miran, whose term ends in January 2026. Miran has consistently advocated for aggressive interest rate cuts during his term on the board. He is serving the remaining term of former Governor Adriana Kugler and could return to his role as chairman of the White House Council of Economic Advisers, which he left to take the short-term appointment as a Fed governor. Significant changes are anticipated for the Federal Rese ...

The record for 2025 is unambiguous. Trump has repeatedly called Powell a “loser” and labeled him with the moniker “Too Late” for supposedly failing to cut short-term interest rates early enough or deeply enough. Vice President J.D. Vance chimed in that it was “monetary malpractice” for the Fed to refuse to cut rates in the spring.And let us be worried about what 2026 holds, as Trump gains even more influence over the Fed. Powell’s term as Fed chair ends in May, and Trump is expected to nominate a loyalist a ...

In 2018, inflation began to rise, and the Fed started raising interest rates. The subsequent market downturn irked President Trump, who seemed to blame the 2018 stock market decline on the Fed raising the Federal Funds rate in order to tamp down inflationary pressures. In late 2018, just one year after Powell's nomination, he said, "I'm not even a little bit happy with my selection of Jay."Yet while Powell was initially nominated to the Chairmanship by President Trump, President Trump has been highly critic ...