This Month
Trump pressures Fed to cut rates by ‘a full point’
The US president has continued his campaign of attacks against the Federal Reserve, insisting that the latest jobs data justifies a huge cut.
Trump renews call for Powell to cut rates as economy slows
Activity at US service providers unexpectedly contracted last month for the first time in almost a year and private companies throttled back hiring.
May
Trump tells Powell he is making a mistake by not cutting rates
The president and the US Federal Reserve chairman met at the White House to discuss the nation’s growth, employment and inflation.
Fed well positioned to wait for clarity on outlook, minutes say
Policymakers judged the risks of both higher unemployment and inflation had risen since their March meeting, primarily due to the potential impact of tariffs.
Dimon warns of US stagflation risk, says Fed right to hold rates
“I don’t agree that we’re in a sweet spot,” the JPMorgan Chase chief executive said, adding that the US central bank was right to wait and see.
The ‘Taco’ trade, and whether to take a bite or resist
The market is applying the rule that “Trump Always Chickens Out”, particularly over his beloved tariffs, and that risky assets rise in response.
Fed to shrink staff by about 10pc over next several years
The central bank has been criticised by Elon Musk — who is running Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency — for what he claimed is overstaffing.
Trump’s challenge: building a bridge to the future
The US president has shifted into uber-spruiker mode in a quest to build a bridge between his short-term pain trade and a more prosperous vision of the future.
Kooyong race tightens; How Zoe Daniel lost; Fed’s game of chicken
Read everything that’s happened in the news so far today.
Fed warns of rising economic risks as it leaves rates steady
Chairman Jerome Powell said the large increases in tariffs would be “likely to generate a rise in inflation, a slowdown in economic growth” and a rise in unemployment.
Markets are playing a giant game of chicken. The Fed just joined in
Like investors, US Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell is refusing to alter course until he’s certain the trade war damage is real. It’s a risky strategy.
Trump could force investors to dump US dollar, says Future Fund
The sovereign wealth fund said there was more risk in US investments, and even though America remained attractive the fund was looking toward Europe, Japan and Australia.
Tariffs force Bank of England to mull faster pace of cuts
Most economists believe Britain’s central bank will switch to a dovish stance after judging that Donald Trump’s tariffs will weigh on growth and temper inflation.
Trump rules out firing Powell, urges him to cut rates
The president also said he is willing to lower tariffs on China at some point, and was unclear if he needed to uphold the constitution, in a TV interview.
April
Inflation steady; $100b fund’s Trump plan; Ex-model running for One Nation
Read everything that’s happened in the news so far today.
Trump celebrates 100 days in office by bashing Powell, touting tariffs
The president criticised the Fed chairman despite assurances earlier this month that he did not plan to fire him over interest rate cuts.
Powell draws applause on independence at closed-door IMF meeting
The Fed chair told the meeting central banks must be shielded from politics to do their jobs.
‘Let’s have clarity’: Finance chiefs rue Trump’s tariff whiplash
Finance chiefs in Washington say they are still trying to figure out what Trump wants, as the global economy heads for a slowdown and the chaos keeps going.
In gold we trust, if the US dollar’s exorbitant privilege withers
While the president has walked back a mooted firing of Jerome Powell, the prospect of installing a more pliant chair next will keep market anxiety high.
Trump’s shock-and-awe approach to China is working
The US president knew he needed to drop neutron bombs to shock his counterparties out of their stubborn stupor.