The Fed and Treasury

Will Trump Try to ‘Overrule’ Monetary Policy?

By Mark Thoma

How will the Federal Reserve evolve during Donald Trump’s term as president? Presently, three of the seven positions on the Federal Reserve Board are vacant. These vacancies, along with the...
Why the Treasury Is Ending a Low-Income Retirement Saving Program

By Beth Braverman

Less than two years after the Obama administration rolled out a myRA, a savings program aimed at helping the millions of Americans without access to a retirement account through work, the Trump...
Will Janet Yellen Give Wall Street a Scare?

By Anthony Mirhaydari

For years, the Federal Reserve has been unable to convince the market it's serious about aggressively tightening policy. Janet Yellen and her cohorts have been guilty of "crying wolf," constantly...
Is the Fed About to Wage War on the Rich?

By Anthony Mirhaydari

For years, stocks have been driven relentlessly higher thanks to a single statement that summarized the aggressive central bank largesse since the eurozone crisis flared up in 2012: Policymakers...
Is the Fed Fighting the Trump Rally?

By Anthony Mirhaydari

The evidence is growing that the Federal Reserve’s policymakers are actively working to lean against the stock market's rise, a dramatic reversal from the years of policy support stock market bulls...

The Fed’s Big Mistake: Rate Hikes Hurt US Workers

By David Dayen

Protesters rallied in Washington, New York City and Philadelphia yesterday against an imminent government action that would damage the financial prospects of ordinary workers. And no, it had nothing...
The Fed, the Reality of Tax Cuts, and Donald Trump

By Mark Thoma

For many years, Republicans argued that tax cuts for the wealthy pay for themselves. Cutting taxes on the wealthy, according to Republicans, allows them to keep a larger share of anything new they...
Will Unwinding the Fed’s $4.5 Trillion Balance Sheet Kill the Bull Market?

By Anthony Mirhaydari

Over the last decade, investors have grown accustomed to a Federal Reserve that constantly coddled them, allayed their fears and did everything possible to support the financial markets and asset...
The Key to This Market: Here’s What Will Determine if Stocks Rise or Fall

By Anthony Mirhaydari

For now, instead of putting pressure on risk assets, the Fed's newfound hawkishness is bolstering the reflation trade by lifting the dollar higher and attracting global capital into U.S. assets. Same...
Can Wall Street Handle Higher Interest Rates?

By Anthony Mirhaydari

The Federal Reserve just raised interest rates for the second time in three months, signaling a dramatic quickening of its prior pace. For the first time in more than a decade, Fed policymakers are...

Russia, Fed and Midterms to Keep Markets on Edge

By Patti Domm, CNBC

Fed speakers, retail sales, inflation data and big chain store earnings are all expected in the week ahead, but it's geopolitical events that could keep markets volatile—particularly when it comes to...
Why the Bond Market Is Poised for a Plunge

By Anthony Mirhaydari

Markets have been rattled over the past week, with small cap stocks suffering their worst run since 2011, as investors suddenly realize that the Federal Reserve is perhaps closer to raising interest...
5 Reasons to Be Optimistic About Economic Growth

By Rob Garver

The Bureau of Economic Analysis said Wednesday that the U.S. economy grew at a 4 percent annualized rate in the second quarter of 2014. It exceeded expectations of 3 percent and added credibility to...
Big-Cap Earnings and Economic Reports Dominate Markets

By Patti Domm, CNBC

A crush of big-cap earnings and arguably the most important economic reports until September combine to make the week ahead the busiest of the summer for markets. The Fed also meets Tuesday and...
Another Regulator Thumbs His Nose at U.S. Consumers

By Rob Garver

Another Washington regulator steps through the revolving door and into a top-level job lobbying for the same industry he oversaw.

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