Could it be more about where the banks want to go versus where traders think the Fed wants to go?

Over the weekend, I spoke to my contacts in the banking industry trying to get a feel for banker sentiments on the Fed’s interest rate policy. The sentiments boiled down to the banks taking whatever the Fed decides in stride. As one contact put it, it’s about the money and the banks will take what … Continue reading Could it be more about where the banks want to go versus where traders think the Fed wants to go?

Minutes of the Federal Open Market Committee, July 29–30, 2025

For release at 2:00 p.m. EDT The Federal Reserve on Wednesday released the minutes of the Federal Open Market Committee meeting that was held on July 29–30, 2025. The minutes for each regularly scheduled meeting of the Committee are generally published three weeks after the day of the policy decision. The descriptions of economic and … Continue reading Minutes of the Federal Open Market Committee, July 29–30, 2025

It is less about political interference with the Fed and more about the degree of interference.

There is ongoing concern of a threat by the Executive Branch to the independence of the Federal Reserve System, specifically influence by the Executive Office of the President on the decisions made by the Federal Open Market Committee on monetary policy. I do not think the issue is political threats to the independence of the … Continue reading It is less about political interference with the Fed and more about the degree of interference.

Will Bostic or Goolsbee say something that will move the markets today?

Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta president and chief executive officer Raphael Bostic and Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago president and chief executive officer Austan Goolsbee will each deliver remarks today on monetary policy and issues pertinent to the districts within which their banks operate. President Goolsbee is a member of this year’s Federal Open Market … Continue reading Will Bostic or Goolsbee say something that will move the markets today?

Today’s foreign exchange action further confirms that Congress long ago abdicated its duty to regulate the value of money.

The EUR/USD closed at 1.16624 at 3:00 pm EDT. It was trading around 1.15746 this morning at about 4:00 am. Because there were no major economic data releases today, traders had more time to lament the downward revision of 258,000 jobs in May and June, the potential pullback in consumer spending as a result of … Continue reading Today’s foreign exchange action further confirms that Congress long ago abdicated its duty to regulate the value of money.

Time to discount effects of Trump’s call for a Powell removal on EUR/USD

From my trading desk: A little dollar strengthening from 5:00 am to 9:00 am, then … From 5:00 am to 9:00 am, I saw dollar strengthening based on the decreasing price of the EUR/USD as reported on the NADEX. The price went from 1.15424 to 1.15354. The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis released its balance … Continue reading Time to discount effects of Trump’s call for a Powell removal on EUR/USD