Yahoo Finance - Stock Market Live, Quotes, Business & Finance News

Economic News and Analysis

The latest news and analysis about the health of the US economy.

Analysis-US stock market confronts risks as investors grapple with tech, Fed outlook

Risks to the U.S. stock market are piling up as cracks emerge in the technology trade and the path for interest rates is clouded by persistent inflation worries that are being exacerbated by the potential for looming tariffs. Mixed results from megacap companies Microsoft, Tesla and Meta Platforms on Wednesday threatened to add to volatility following ruptures earlier in the week in the artificial intelligence trade that has helped propel tech's stock market leadership. The Federal Reserve also paused its rate-cutting cycle on Wednesday -- a decision that investors had been bracing for.

Reuters 27 minutes ago

^GSPC

MSFT

Shell, Thebe Near $1 Billion South Africa Oil-Asset Sales Pact

(Bloomberg) -- Shell Plc and its South African partner are close to ending a valuation dispute, paving the way for the sale of the oil giant’s local downstream assets for as much as $1 billion, according to people familiar with the matter.Most Read from BloombergManhattan’s Morning Commute Time Drops With New Congestion TollTrump's Federal Funding Pause Threatens State Financials Housing Aid Uncertain After Trump’s Spending Freeze MemoUS Students’ Reading Scores Drop to Worst in More Than 20 Yea

Crude Oil Steadies With Traders in Limbo Over US Trade Policies

(Bloomberg) -- Oil steadied as investors waited for clarity on the US administration’s plans for trade policy, with Donald Trump’s pick for commerce secretary saying Canada and Mexico may be able to avoid levies.Most Read from BloombergManhattan’s Morning Commute Time Drops With New Congestion TollTrump's Federal Funding Pause Threatens State Financials Housing Aid Uncertain After Trump’s Spending Freeze MemoUS Students’ Reading Scores Drop to Worst in More Than 20 YearsTexas HOA Charged With Di

Import surge seen curbing US economic growth in fourth quarter

U.S. economic growth likely slowed in the fourth quarter as imports surged and a strike at Boeing hurt spending on aircraft, though strong domestic demand will probably keep the Federal Reserve on a shallow interest rate cut path this year. The advance gross domestic product (GDP) report from the Commerce Department on Thursday is also expected to show consumer spending maintaining a robust pace of growth last quarter. Consumer spending is being underpinned by a resilient labor market, which is churning out solid wage gains.

Bitcoin Extends Advance After Fed Meeting, Powell Commentary

(Bloomberg) -- Bitcoin extended its biggest jump in more than a week following the Federal Reserve’s latest monetary policy meeting and comments from Chair Jerome Powell that touched briefly upon crypto regulation.Most Read from BloombergManhattan’s Morning Commute Time Drops With New Congestion TollTrump's Federal Funding Pause Threatens State Financials Housing Aid Uncertain After Trump’s Spending Freeze MemoUS Students’ Reading Scores Drop to Worst in More Than 20 YearsTexas HOA Charged With

Trump says Powell and Fed ‘failed to stop the problem they created’ on inflation

President Donald Trump wasted no time criticizing the Fed after it held rates steady Wednesday, arguing Jerome Powell and the central bank "failed to stop the problem they created" on inflation.

The shadow of Trump looms over a cautious Fed

The Federal Reserve will gather this week for its first meeting of 2025 under the looming shadow of a new US president who is already posing challenges to the central bank with his words and possible actions.

US dollar retreats from 2-year high as Trump touts 'tremendous' tariff power, but holds off on swift action

The US dollar just saw its worst week in over a year as Trump held off on enacting tariffs — for now.

Manufacturing data shows American companies 'starting 2025 in an upbeat mood' as Trump takes office

Sentiment among US manufacturers shot higher in January as companies prepare for President Trump's second term in office.

The twin economic disparities Trump needs to manage: Morning Brief

President Trump faces a gap between the rich and poor, one that helped him get elected. But he also faces another one: the gap between a winning US and a losing Europe and China. Which may be a problem.

Trump says he will 'demand' interest rates drop, hinting at coming clash with Powell

Donald Trump hinted at a coming clash with Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell and other central bankers as he spoke virtually before the World Economic Forum, saying he would 'demand' lower interest rates.

Federal Reserve could hike rates if Trump tariffs unleash inflation: BNY CEO

BNY CEO Robin Vince won't rule out a Fed rate hike if Trump tariffs stoke inflation.

A trade war with China is coming as Trump takes office: Bremmer

Eurasia Group founder and president Ian Bremmer warned Monday that he believes the US is headed for a trade war with China just as Donald Trump assumes the presidency for the second time.

Trump and Powell could be on a collision course in 2025

Donald Trump and Federal Reserve Chair Jay Powell have clashed before, and may be set to do so again in 2025.

Trump makes the Fed's challenging inflation fight more complicated

Inflation was a top concern for central bank leaders in 2024. Donald Trump could make the fight against higher prices even more difficult.

The Fed holds interest rates steady in its first decision of the year

Amid pressure from President Donald Trump to keep lowering interest rates, the Federal Reserve held steady.

Fed rate actions in 2025 seen in a narrow band, Goldman Sachs CEO says

NEW YORK (Reuters) -The Federal Reserve's future moves on interest rates in 2025 will be in a narrow range unless the trajectory of inflation changes, Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon said in comments posted on the firm's website on Wednesday. "Unless we get some policy action that really changes the trajectory of inflation, I think we'll be in a narrow band with the policy rate," Solomon said on the firm's podcast.

Gold Holds Decline After Powell Flags Pause in Fed Easing Cycle

(Bloomberg) -- Gold held a slight decline after Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said officials won’t rush to lower US interest rates, adding that the central bank is pausing easing to see further progress on inflation.Most Read from BloombergManhattan’s Morning Commute Time Drops With New Congestion TollTrump's Federal Funding Pause Threatens State Financials Housing Aid Uncertain After Trump’s Spending Freeze MemoUS Students’ Reading Scores Drop to Worst in More Than 20 YearsTexas HOA Charg

Powell Signals Fed on Hold as Trump’s Economic Policies Take Shape

(Bloomberg) -- It’s not a skip, it’s a pause — and maybe an extended one.Most Read from BloombergManhattan’s Morning Commute Time Drops With New Congestion TollTrump's Federal Funding Pause Threatens State Financials Housing Aid Uncertain After Trump’s Spending Freeze MemoUS Students’ Reading Scores Drop to Worst in More Than 20 YearsTexas HOA Charged With Discrimination for Banning Section 8 RentersFederal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell made clear on Wednesday the US central bank intends to hold i

Fed guided by economic goals and the law, not politics, says Powell

Fielding a range of questions about the imprint of the Trump administration on the U.S. central bank, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell on Wednesday said that politics had not prompted the Fed's decision to leave a global climate-focused group, and would not affect its interest-rate calls. And while Powell did say that the Fed is working to align its workforce policies with President Donald Trump's executive order banning the promotion of diversity and inclusion, he signaled that changes could be limited, saying that they would be "consistent with applicable law" and that he remains convinced that diversity is a hallmark of successful organizations.

Powell Says Fed Doesn’t Need to Be in a Hurry to Lower Rates

(Bloomberg) -- Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said officials are not in a rush to lower interest rates, adding the central bank is pausing to see further progress on inflation following a string of rate reductions last year.Most Read from BloombergManhattan’s Morning Commute Time Drops With New Congestion TollTrump's Federal Funding Pause Threatens State Financials Housing Aid Uncertain After Trump’s Spending Freeze MemoUS Students’ Reading Scores Drop to Worst in More Than 20 YearsTexas HO