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.

Trump’s poorly played short term currency policy exposes Europe’s long term currency complacency …

From my trading desk … FX Street is reporting today that traders of the EUR/USD should expect continued slides in the euro. I concur in their assessment given what I saw in the charts on the NADEX from 10:00 am yesterday morning to 11:00 pm that evening. The EUR/USD went from a close of 1.16375 … Continue reading Trump’s poorly played short term currency policy exposes Europe’s long term currency complacency …

Binary options: Did Trump’s tariff letters upset the EUR/USD?

I bought a EUR/USD contract speculating on a close above 1.1700 by 11 am this morning. At 11:00 am, the EUR/USD price at expiration was 1.17385. Tariff uncertainty dominated the media scuttlebutt as markets kept all eyes on President Trump’s letter writing campaign. According to CBS News, Mr. Trump was to send tariff increase letters … Continue reading Binary options: Did Trump’s tariff letters upset the EUR/USD?

Will the new administration apply Project 2025 reforms to the Federal Reserve?

Today is Fed Day, when the Federal Open Market Committee wraps up its two-day meeting on the state of the U.S. economy and issues its decision on the appropriate rates for regulating the interbank market. 12 USC 225(a) requires that: “The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Federal Open Market Committee … Continue reading Will the new administration apply Project 2025 reforms to the Federal Reserve?

The chances of a 50-basis point hike in fed funds rate higher than reported.

The CME FedWatch tool is reporting a 59% chance that the Federal Open Market Committee will reduce the federal funds target range to 4.75%-5.00% from the current 5.25%-5.50% range. Business media has been reporting sentiment leaning toward a 25-basis point cut versus the sentiment reported in CME data. For traders, this should signal a bump … Continue reading The chances of a 50-basis point hike in fed funds rate higher than reported.