Michael Barr

As artificial intelligence (AI) accelerates job displacement, economist Craig Shapiro warns that the Federal Reserve's traditional tool of interest rate cuts is ill-equipped to address the looming labor crisis. What Happened: In an X post and a detailed Substack essay published today, Shapiro...

U.S. stock futures were lower on Thursday after mostly closing higher on Wednesday. Futures of major benchmark indices were trading lower in premarket. Wednesday saw a positive momentum in tech stocks led by Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:NVDA) following the deals with Saudi Arabia, strong earnings from...

U.S. stock futures fell on Thursday after another session of scaling fresh records on Wednesday. Futures of all four benchmark indices declined in the premarket. Wednesday's Federal Reserve minutes showed officials favored pausing rate cuts, citing potential inflation from Trump’s tariffs and...

Banks reporting fourth-quarter earnings on Wednesday will take center stage, with investors watching closely for insights on the health of the U.S. economy. Traditionally seen as a barometer for broader economic performance, strong results from banks could set a positive tone for other sectors and...

Wall Street is in full risk-on mode, as traders eagerly snap up technology stocks, particularly semiconductors, ahead of Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:NVDA) CEO Jensen Huang‘s speech later on Monday at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Tech-linked indices and sector outperformed by midday...

In a possible move to reshape the Federal Reserve, former President Donald Trump's advisors are reportedly considering strategies to gain quicker influence over the central bank. What Happened: Trump may explore demoting Michael Barr, the current vice chair for Supervision, allowing him to remain...

Micron, Inc.’s (NASDAQ:MU) earnings could revitalize the sagging market momentum, with the index futures trading notably higher early Thursday. The risk-on mood was evident across the global markets as China’s commitment to stimulate the domestic economy encouraged traders. The markets...

The gravity-defying climb faces risk, as the index futures trade narrowly mixed in early trading on Tuesday. That said, the recent gains could keep traders wary of a potential pullback. A couple of speeches by Federal Reserve officials are the lone Main Street catalysts for the day even as the...

The equity market appears to be on track to build on gains, with the major index futures firmly in the green early Tuesday. Traders apparently are discounting a dovish message from Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell on the first day of the semi-annual monetary policy testimony before Congress....

Large bank stocks have had a banner year amid expectations of interest rate policy and optimism for an economic “soft landing.” The Invesco KBW Bank ETF (NASDAQ:KBWB) has appreciated by 31.1% in the past year, while the SPDR S&P Bank ETF (NYSE:KBE) is up 28.7%. A recent industry...

Early Tuesday futures trading suggested a pause after the tech-driven rally of the previous session. Global cues were negative, with Asian markets retreating and European markets opening lower. Commodities dipped, and bond yields remained flat. Traders may be cautious until Nvidia...

U.S. index futures are modestly higher in early trading on Monday, suggesting that the upward momentum remains intact, albeit laced with caution. Traders will likely scan speeches by Federal Reserve officials for confirmation regarding rate trajectory. The global markets have taken development in...

In what could be a good tiding for big banks, a report on Sunday indicated that regulators are considering significantly reducing the proposed increase in capital requirements. What Happened: The Federal Reserve, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency...

Bad loans in the commercial real estate (CRE) industry have begun to exceed the loss reserves set aside by institutions such as JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM), Bank of America Corp. (NYSE:BAC), Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC), Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:C), Goldman Sachs Inc. (NYSE:GS), and...

Trading in stock futures suggests sentiment could remain guarded yet again on Tuesday as traders gear up to receive data on consumer confidence and house prices and a slew of Fed speeches. With oil rebounding ahead of the November 30 OPEC+ meeting, the energy space could see some sparkle. The...