Federal Reserve

May 14, 2026 11:41 AM

Fed may have to hike to defend its credibility: Mike Dolan

Sitting out the oil shock may not be enough. The Federal Reserve may now have to prove it will act to meet its inflation target, much as its counterparts in Europe seem determined to do. Given what Wall Street forecasters currently think, that could pack quite a punch if it happens. Year-end crude oil futures are near their highest level of the Iran war so far, and with little sign of a durable peace deal. April U.S. inflation data this week showed the mounting damage to already above-target pr...

January 12, 2026 12:42 PM

Gold, silver prices hit fresh highs amid global uncertainties

Gold and silver prices touched record highs on Monday as markets reacted to the US Justice Department's escalation of tensions with the Federal Reserve and intensifying protests in Iran that heightened geopolitical risks. MCX gold February futures surged 1.46 per cent to Rs 1,40,838 per 10 grams, while MCX silver March futures rose 3.66 per cent to Rs 2,61,977 per kg. Spot gold price surged 1.45 per cent to $4,575.82 an ounce, after hitting a fresh record high of $4,601.17. Silver prices gaine...

October 29, 2025 3:01 PM

Uncertain Fed edges toward new rate cut

The Federal Reserve is expected to cut interest rates by a quarter of a percentage point on Wednesday as policymakers steer the U.S. economy based on limited data that has nevertheless kept concerns about the strength of the job market top of mind. Economists polled by Reuters nearly unanimous in expecting the U.S. central bank to reduce its benchmark policy rate to the 3.75%-4.00% range when its latest two-day meeting concludes. But it’s a decision at least partly based on inertia, not...

August 18, 2025 9:14 AM

Global shares scale fresh tops in Asia, oil slips on truce talks

Share markets edged higher in Asia on Monday ahead of what is likely to be an eventful week for U.S. interest rate policy, while oil prices slipped as risks to Russian supplies seemed to fade a little. A general risk-on mood saw indices in Japan and Taiwan make record peaks, while Chinese blue chips reached their highest in 10 months. U.S. President Donald Trump now seemed more aligned with Moscow on seeking a peace deal with Ukraine instead of a ceasefire first, after meeting Russian Presiden...

July 30, 2025 3:54 PM

Global stocks mixed as investors brace for Fed meeting, tariff deadline

Global stocks struggled for clear direction on Wednesday ahead of the Federal Reserve's policy announcement later in the day, with investors cautious after two days of trade talks between the U.S. and China concluded without any major breakthroughs. Treasury yields and the dollar were also little changed as the market anticipated the Fed will keep rates on hold despite pressure from the White House to lower borrowing costs. Europe's STOXX 600 was flat, with blue-chip indexes in Frankfurt, Pari...

June 27, 2025 4:42 PM

US stock futures rise ahead of inflation data as investors anticipate dovish Fed

U.S. stock index futures surged on Friday, putting the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq on track for record highs as investors geared up for a key inflation report amid signs of a dovish policy outlook from the Federal Reserve this year. Personal Consumption Expenditure data - the U.S. central bank's preferred inflation gauge - for May is due to be released at 08:30 a.m. ET and will be scrutinized to assess the Fed's interest-rate path as tariffs weigh on prices. As the ceasefire in the Middle East ...

March 20, 2025 1:11 PM

Fed in no rush to cut rates; Trump disagrees

The Trump administration's initial policies, including extensive import tariffs, appear to have tilted the U.S. economy toward slower growth and at least temporarily higher inflation, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said on Wednesday, drawing the ire of President Donald Trump. Trump posted late on Wednesday on his Truth Social platform: "The Fed would be MUCH better off CUTTING RATES as U.S. Tariffs start to transition (ease!) their way into the economy. Do the right thing." Earlier, i...

December 18, 2024 1:24 PM

Fed expected to combine interest rate cut with hawkish 2025 outlook

The Federal Reserve is expected to lower borrowing costs on Wednesday in what some observers are calling a "hawkish cut" set to be delivered alongside policymakers' updated interest rate outlooks and economic forecasts covering the first months of the incoming Trump administration. The anticipated quarter-percentage-point move would lower the U.S. central bank's benchmark policy rate to the 4.25%-4.50% range, a full percentage point below where it stood in September when it began easing the tig...

November 8, 2024 10:13 AM

US Fed cuts interest rates by 25 points; Powell signals cautious path forward

The Federal Reserve cut interest rates by a quarter of a percentage point on Thursday as its policymakers began taking stock of what could become a more complex economic landscape when President-elect Donald Trump takes office next year. Fed Chair Jerome Powell said the results of Tuesday's presidential election, which paved the way for a U.S. chief executive who has pledged widespread deportation of immigrants, broad-based tariffs, and tax cuts, would have no "near-term" impact on U.S. monetar...

November 6, 2024 8:26 PM

US stock futures, dollar and bitcoin surge as Trump wins race to White House

Major stock markets around the world rallied on Wednesday, while bitcoin hit a record high and the dollar was set for its biggest one-day jump in four years as Donald Trump was elected U.S. president. Small cap U.S. stocks in particular were boosted by expectations that a Trump presidency would offer tax cuts and support domestic companies. Though bond investors dumped long-dated Treasuries, betting that accompanying tariff hikes would increase the deficit and inflation, causing the Federal Re...