New US Fed Chair Jerome Powell

The yuan weakened after the government reported unexpectedly low inflation

Inflation is cooling, and parts of the economy appear to be weakening. But Chair Jerome Powell is likely Wednesday to underscore that the Federal Reserve's primary focus remains the need to fight surging prices with still-higher interest rates. With financial markets anticipating that the Fed will stop raising rates soon and possibly even cut them later this year, analysts say Powell will need to push back against such optimism. If financial markets expect lower rates than what the Fed plans to deliver, the central bank's already treacherous task can become even harder. Powell's tough message will likely emerge at a news conference after the Fed's 19-member policy committee announces its latest action. The policymakers are set to raise their benchmark rate by a quarter-point to a range of 4.5% to 4.75%, its highest level in about 15 years. The move could further increase borrowing rates for consumers as well as companies, ranging from mortgages to auto and business loans. In some

The dollar-yen pair is extremely sensitive to changes in long-term US yields

The S&P 500 is down 9% since mid-August, partially reversing a summer rebound after Federal Reserve Chair warned the central bank's single-minded fight against inflation could lead to economic pain

Oil prices were mixed on Monday as investors balanced expectations the OPEC will cut output to support prices against concerns sparked by Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell

The dollar held onto recent gains against the euro and sterling on Friday ahead of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's widely-anticipated speech, which traders hope will offer clues on the U.S. cent

He said the US economy may depend on more fiscal stimulus to fight the economic impacts of the coronavirus

In a statement, the US Fed said it was cutting rates by a half percentage point to a target range of 1 per cent to 1.25 per cent

Moderate economic activity, weak business fixed investment and exports, and global uncertainties promoted the Fed to lower the key interest rates, a second since the recession of 2008

The chair, under pressure from President Donald Trump to cut rates soon and deeply, listed a series of economic and geopolitical risks that the Fed is monitoring

For the first time since Volcker, the incoming Fed Chair Jerome Powell's height is more than his predecessor's