President Donald Trump urged the Federal Reserve to slash interest rates to 1%, arguing it would reduce federal borrowing costs and boost economic growth. "We need a 1% rate. The Fed is killing growth," he said on Monday. The federal funds rate currently stands at 5.25–5.50%, where the Fed has held it to control inflation and prevent economic overheating. Dropping rates to 1% would represent the most aggressive monetary easing since the COVID-19 pandemic. Trump's call comes as federal debt servicing costs climb toward historic highs. While a lower rate could ease short-term interest...
President Donald Trump warned on Monday that he would impose secondary tariffs of 100% on Russia if a peace deal with Ukraine isn't reached within 50 days. "We are going to be doing very severe tariffs if you don't have a deal in 50 days, perhaps 100%," he said during a meeting with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte. These secondary tariffs would penalize any country trading with Russia, allowing the U.S. to impose steep duties on imports from those nations. While U.S. trade with Russia dropped to $3.5 billion in 2024, indirect trade routes remain significant. Trump's proposed 100% rate is...
US President Donald Trump announced new weapons for Ukraine on Monday, threatening sanctions against buyers of Russian exports unless Russia agrees to a peace deal. This represents a major policy shift fueled by frustration over Moscow's ongoing attacks on its neighbor. However, Trump's sanctions threat came with a 50-day grace period, a move welcomed by investors in Russia, where the ruble recovered from earlier losses and the stock market rallied. Meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in the Oval Office, Trump told reporters he was disappointed with Russian President Vladimir...