Page 2 - Federal Reserve

Federal Reserve governor Stephen Miran steps down from White House post

Federal Reserve governor Stephen Miran has stepped down from his position as chair of the White House's Council of Economic Advisers, ending a controversial arrangement where he held positions at both institutions. His resignation was confirmed by White House spokesman Kush Desai late on Tuesday. President Donald Trump appointed Miran in September to a seat on the Fed's seven-member board of governors after Adriana Kugler, who was appointed by President Joe Biden, abruptly resigned. Miran completed her term, which ended January 31. Yet he can remain on the Fed's board until a replacement is confirmed by the Senate. It is unusual for someone to keep a White House position while also serving as a Fed governor, a nonpartisan position. Previous presidents have appointed aides to the Fed, but for decades they gave up their White House positions before joining the Fed. Miran took an unpaid leave of absence instead. Miran said when he was named in September that he would step down from hi

Warsh's return revives tensions over US Fed's $6.6 trn QE hangover

At the same time, Warsh could argue that by tightening financial conditions, a smaller balance sheet would grant his Fed room to cut its benchmark rate deeper

Crypto rout deepens as ETF outflows, geopolitical tensions rattle investors

Until macro stability returns and ETF inflows resume, crypto markets, analysts believe, are likely to remain defensive

Why Trump's new pick for US Fed chair hit gold and silver markets

After months of record highs and stretched valuations, spot prices for gold and silver dropped 9 per cent and 28 per cent respectively after the announcement

A red-hot US economy under Donald Trump may not cool the way he hopes

Trump's high-growth push - fuelled by stimulus, deregulation and rate cuts - may heat up the US economy but risks persistent inflation and financial instability

Who is Kevin Warsh, Trump's pick to succeed Powell as Fed chair?

US President Donald Trump has nominated former Federal Reserve governor Kevin Warsh to lead the central bank after Jerome Powell steps down in May

Trump admin likely to back Kevin Warsh for next Federal Reserve chair

Trump has openly sought to shape Fed's rate policy through his appointments in an effort to find someone broadly acceptable to markets who'll also share his inclination to cut rates further and faster

Navigating global turmoil: Can India stay the course on policy and growth?

Despite geopolitical risks and inflation worries, experts say resilient growth, likely US rate cuts, and stable Indian fundamentals will shape markets in the year ahead

Fed likely to keep rates unchanged as chief Powell pivots back to economics

After two weeks of intense political and legal scrutiny, the Federal Reserve will seek to make this week's meeting about interest rates as straightforward and uneventful as possible, though President Donald Trump probably still won't like the result. The central bank's interest rate-setting committee is almost certain to keep its key short-term rate unchanged at about 3.6 per cent, after three straight quarter-point cuts last year. Fed Chair Jerome Powell said after December's meeting that they were "well positioned to wait to see how the economy evolves" before making any further moves. When the Fed lowers its short-term rate, it can over time influence other borrowing costs for things like mortgages, auto loans and business borrowing, though those rates are also affected by market forces. This week's meeting - one of eight the Fed holds each year - will be overshadowed by the bombshell revelation earlier this month that the Justice Department has subpoenaed the Fed as part of a ..

Supreme Court signals limits on Trump's power over Federal Reserve

The Supreme Court for the past year has repeatedly allowed President Donald Trump to fire heads of independent agencies, but it appears to be drawing a line with the Federal Reserve. The court has signaled for months that it sees the Fed in a different light. It has said that the president can fire directors of other agencies for any reason, but can remove Fed governors only "for cause," which is often interpreted to mean neglect of duty or malfeasance. Last year, the court allowed President Donald Trump to fire - at least temporarily - Gwynne Wilcox, a member of the National Labor Relations Board, and Cathy Harris, a member of the Merit Systems Protection Board, but it carved out a distinction for the Fed. The two officials had argued that if Trump could fire them, he could also fire members of the Fed's board of governors. "We disagree," the court said then. "The Federal Reserve is a uniquely structured, quasi-private entity that follows in the distinct historical tradition of the

Nearly a year in, Trump uses regulatory force to try to lower inflation

To assuage cost-weary voters and combat inflation, the president has resorted to a mix of threats and punishments, targeting companies and policymakers alike

AI euphoria to geopolitics: Why markets look strangely unprepared for 2026

After years of soaring markets and ignored risks, 2026 could test investor complacency as geopolitics, AI hype, policy volatility and debt push the global economy towards turbulence

Sensex, Nifty gain on hopes of further Federal Reserve rate cuts

The US consumer price index rose 2.7 per cent year-on-year in November, below expectations of a 3.1 per cent jump

Next Fed chair will believe in lower interest rates 'by a lot', says Trump

Trump made the comments during a national address touting his economic and national security accomplishments in the first year of his second term in office

US Federal Reserve cuts key rate again, signals steadier economy next year

The Federal Reserve reduced its key interest rate by a quarter-point for the third time in a row on Wednesday but signalled that it may leave rates unchanged in the coming months. Chair Jerome Powell signalled at a news conference that the Fed would likely hold off on further rate cuts in the coming months while it evaluated the health of the economy. And in a set of quarterly economic projections, Fed officials signalled they expect to lower rates just once next year. Wednesday's cut reduced the rate to about 3.6 per cent, the lowest it has been in nearly three years. Lower rates from the Fed can bring down borrowing costs for mortgages, auto loans, and credit cards over time, though market forces can also affect those rates. Fed officials "will carefully evaluate the incoming data," Powell said, adding that the Fed is "well positioned to wait to see how the economy evolves." The chair also said that the Fed's key rate was close to a level that neither restricts nor stimulates the

Asia stocks fall as US Fed meets, yen slides and silver hits record highs

With most assets frozen in the Fed headlights, attention was grabbed by a sudden slide in the Japanese yen and the continued dizzy ascent of silver prices, which both hit record peaks

Gold edges higher as US Federal Reserve prepares to announce rate cut

Spot gold rose 0.4 per cent to $4,208.39 per ounce by 0920 GMT. US gold futures for February delivery rose 0.48 per cent to $4,237.80 per ounce

Fed may find itself in a bind as it sets stage for Powell's successor

Trump wants lower borrowing costs in particular to boost the housing sector as a way to address broader concerns about affordability that could be central to midterm elections

White House may 'veto' Federal Reserve presidents: US Treasury Secretary

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Wednesday he would push a new requirement that the Federal Reserve's regional bank presidents live in their districts for at least three years before taking office, a move that could give the White House more power over the independent agency. In comments at the New York Times' DealBook Summit, Bessent said that there is a disconnect with the framing of the Federal Reserve and added that, unless someone has lived in their district for three years, we're going to veto them. Bessent has stepped up his criticism of the Fed's 12 regional bank presidents in recent weeks after several of them made clear in a series of speeches that they opposed cutting the Fed's key rate at its next meeting in December. President Donald Trump has sharply criticized the Fed for not lowering its short-term interest rate more quickly. When the Fed reduces its rate it can over time lower borrowing costs for mortgages, auto loans, and credit cards. The prospect of the ...

Rate-cut expectations lift benchmark equity indices to near peak levels

Renewed expectations of December rate cuts by the Fed and RBI lifted sentiment, sending the Nifty near a record close and giving indices their strongest single-day rise in five months.