7 d. ago Even Trump must know that firing the chair of the Fed would be self

Jerome Powell is a soft target for the president amid economic instability. But getting rid of him would only invite more chaosUS stock markets, Treasury bonds and the dollar itself are sliding amid the tariff turmoil and Donald Trump needs a soft target. It was probably only a matter of time before he intensified his attacks on Jerome Powell, chair of the US Federal Reserve. It is an easy narrative to blame the dull central banker with orthodox worries about anchoring inflation expectations. Nor is Powell able to engage in tit-for-tat soundbites. Unlike Trump, he must measure the impact on markets of his every word.The open question is how far Trump intends to push things. Monday’s reaction in financial markets was strong because it seemed for the first time that the president could be serious about removal. “Powell’s termination cannot come fast enough!” declared Trump, which was several notches beyond his usual whine about urging the Fed to hurry up with cuts in interest rates. C...

Politics

2 w. ago US’s $2.36tn tourism business fears ‘Trump slump’ over tariff turmoil

Warnings emerge even as effect of economic and political turbulence on the foreign visitors to the US is hard to defineBatman said business was so-so, and King Kong beat his chest in agreement. But neither could predict that it would improve. Gotham’s caped crusader and his muscular ape neighbour could only hope. As with Times Square’s superhero-themed visitor-photography business last week, so it is with the US tourism business at large.The effect of economic and political turbulence on the number of foreign visitors coming to the US is for now hard to define. But both – whether through tariffs, currency exchange chaos, or fears over political ill-winds – are sending chills through the $2.36tn business, the world’s most powerful travel and tourism market. Continue reading...

Economics

2 w. ago ‘Stuff should be made here’: Ohio shrugs off Trump tariff turmoil

Company owners say the president’s measures will result in more manufacturing in the US

Politics

3 w. ago Trump news at a glance: Wild swings on global markets as Trump threatens further China tariffs

Extreme volatility has plagued global stock markets, with Donald Trump defying stark warnings about economic damage – key US politics stories from 7 April Global stock markets fell catastrophically on Monday following President Trump’s tariff rollout.Despite the economic turmoil, the US president doubled down on his plan, threatening to impose an additional 50% tariff on imports from China on Wednesday, unless the country rescinds its retaliatory tariffs on the United States by Tuesday. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Trump says US in direct talks with Iran over nuclear program as he holds Oval Office meeting with Netanyahu – US politics live

President says talks to continue on Saturday and adds he and Israeli president also discussed tariffs and Israel-Gaza warEU ministers are in Luxembourg to consider the European Union’s response to Trump’s sweeping tariff regime amid continuing market turmoil and heightened fears of a global economic recession.It comes after Trump doubled down on his tariff policy in comments aboard Air Force One overnight. He said Europe “has treated us very, very badly,” and “has taken our leaders for a ride”, and declined to hold talks on changing tariffs “unless they pay us a lot of money on a yearly basis”. He also repeated criticism of Europe for not spending a fair share on Nato. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Trump threatens China with extra 50% tariffs if country fails to withdraw 34% retaliatory levies – US politics live

US president escalates trade war with China, saying all negotiations will be terminated and additional levies will take effect on WednesdayGlobal stock markets tumble over tariff ‘medicine’Wall Street falls continue – business liveWhich Trump billionaires have lost the most?EU ministers are in Luxembourg to consider the European Union’s response to Trump’s sweeping tariff regime amid continuing market turmoil and heightened fears of a global economic recession.It comes after Trump doubled down on his tariff policy in comments aboard Air Force One overnight. He said Europe “has treated us very, very badly,” and “has taken our leaders for a ride”, and declined to hold talks on changing tariffs “unless they pay us a lot of money on a yearly basis”. He also repeated criticism of Europe for not spending a fair share on Nato. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Trump says Federal Reserve should cut rates; Canada initiates WTO dispute over car tariffs – US politics live

US economic council head denies tariffs were part of strategy to pressure Fed to cut interest rates; Canada says measures breach trade agreementsEU ministers are in Luxembourg to consider the European Union’s response to Trump’s sweeping tariff regime amid continuing market turmoil and heightened fears of a global economic recession.It comes after Trump doubled down on his tariff policy in comments aboard Air Force One overnight. He said Europe “has treated us very, very badly,” and “has taken our leaders for a ride”, and declined to hold talks on changing tariffs “unless they pay us a lot of money on a yearly basis”. He also repeated criticism of Europe for not spending a fair share on Nato. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Millions of UK workers see thousands slashed from pension pots in Trump's tariff turmoil

Market mayhem continues with another £2trillion wiped off shares as experts warn it's 'not a good time' for UK workers whose pension pots have been hammered

Economics

3 w. ago FTSE 100 hits lowest level since January as IMF warns Trump tariffs ‘a significant risk’ to global economy – business live

Kristolina Georgieva warns against retaliation to US levies while US president insists ‘markets will boom’ after sweeping tariff announcementGlobal markets in turmoil as Trump tariffs wipe $2.5tn off Wall StreetAnalysis: Trump’s ‘idiotic’ and flawed tariff calculations stun economistsNew Civil Liberties Alliance, a conservative legal group, has filed what it says is the first lawsuit seeking to block Donald Trump’s tariffs on Chinese imports, saying the US president overstepped his authority. Reuters reports:The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Florida, alleges that Trump lacked the legal authority to impose the sweeping tariffs unveiled on Wednesday as well as duties authorized on February 1 under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.“By invoking emergency power to impose an across-the-board tariff on imports from China that the statute does not authorize, President Trump has misused that power, usurped Congress’s right to control tariffs, and upset the Constitution’s ...

Events

3 w. ago Asian markets drop further as IMF warns Trump tariffs ‘a significant risk’ to global economy – business live

Kristolina Georgieva warns against retaliation to US levies while US president insists ‘markets will boom’ after sweeping tariff announcementFull report: Global markets in turmoil as Trump tariffs wipe $2.5tn off Wall StreetAnalysis: Trump’s ‘idiotic’ and flawed tariff calculations stun economistsSenior senators introduced new bipartisan legislation on Thursday seeking to claw back some of Congress’s power over tariffs after Donald Trump unveiled sweeping new import taxes and rattled the global economy with sweeping new import taxes.The Trade Review Act of 2025, co-sponsored by Senator Chuck Grassley, a top Republican lawmaker from Iowa, a state heavily reliant on farm exports, and Senator Maria Cantwell, a Democrat from Washington, whose state shares a border with Canada, would require the president to notify Congress of new tariffs, and provide a justification for the action and an analysis on the potential impact on US businesses and consumers. Continue reading...

Events