When Trump appointed Powell, I was skeptical, but nor surprised considering that the main criterion for Trump appointees was loyalty. I didn't believe Powell had the right background to lead the Fed. Nothing has changed my mind. But I should not forget he is only one of 5 other Governors -- at the moment. Yellen's spot, the seventh Governor, is still open. Biden needs to fill it. There are currently 6 governors five of which are of Republican persuasion with one Democrat leaning. If you like current monetary policy you should be happy for a long time. If you don't, you're going to be unhappy for a long time. Only two of the seven seats expire before the 2024 election. And one of those seats expires so close to the election, that even if the Democrats should hold on to a majority in the Senate it would be difficult for Biden to fill it before the 2024 election.
I think it's worth noting that there's a huge difference between fiscal policy and monetary policy. Fiscal policy (IMO) is largely responsible for the acute inflationary issues we have today. Low interest rates and "free money" as a monetary policy is very different from sending actual cash to people and essentially paying them not work. If zero rates from the Fed was a small fire (that would eventually lead to inflation), the "stimulus" from earlier this year was the gasoline. Biden's BBB would be more fiscal policy that would be bringing in helicopters to drop the gasoline. Sometimes the fiscal policy is working against the monetary policy. Two things about raising rates at this juncture; 1) You would have to raise them to a very high level relative to where we are now to have any real impact and; 2) The effects of a Fed interest rate hike are so delayed as to render them useless in the first six months. I'm not against a hike, but I do agree they need to wrap up the repo actions first. I think they would have raised yesterday if they had been finished.
Britain took the first step this morning at 7AM ET by increasing their rate a tad. I believe that's why we had the huge tech-selloff today. Tech holders are now seeing the reality that hikes ARE ACTUALLY COMING. Powell talking about them is one thing, but a central bank over in Europe actually doing it? Capillary action now for the Fed?
Markets simply can't keep rallying in this environment imho Inflation and high taxes will have people selling stocks for $ Dumbass left wing politicians are bad for stocks, the economy, etc
The Fed Reserve is supposed to be independent even though the chair of it is nominated by POTUS. They are not supposed to be influenced by political pressure nor are they supposed to be swayed by any political parties. It's only Trump that made it look political due to his inexperience with the media.
I don't agree with this. In my opinion it was Trump that made it political. Look at the makeup of the Board now that Trump made those appointments. The purpose of those appointments was to get himself re-elected, the Country be damned. Everything Trump did , EVERYTHING, was calculated to benefit himself. But he lost touch of his own fallibility as a child.