Here's a snapshot of the market as Thursday wound down: stock futures were pointing higher, oil was still hanging out near $95 a barrel, and Donald Trump was telling the Federal Reserve what to do. Again.
Let's start with the numbers. Futures for the major indices were all in the green. Dow futures were up 247 points, or 0.53%, to 46,968. S&P 500 futures gained 30.25 points (0.45%) to 6,707.75, and Nasdaq 100 futures added 90 points (0.37%) to 24,650.
Over in the energy pit, things remained lively. WTI Crude futures were trading around $94.85, with Brent crude near $99.75. Natural gas ticked up to about $3.24. Remember, oil briefly surged past $100 earlier this week—the first time since 2022—thanks to geopolitical jitters that have everyone worried about tighter supply.
While the U.S. Dollar Index dipped slightly and Asian markets traded lower early Friday, the main event for U.S. investors might be the verbal volley from Mar-a-Lago.
Trump to Powell: Cut Rates Now
On the same day, former President Donald Trump took to his social media platform, Truth Social, with a direct message for Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell.
"Where is the Federal Reserve Chairman, Jerome ‘Too Late' Powell, today? He should be dropping Interest Rates, IMMEDIATELY, not waiting for the next meeting," Trump wrote.
It's the latest in a series of critiques from Trump, who has argued that aggressive rate cuts are needed to fuel stronger economic growth. The timing is, as always, interesting.
The Fed's Tricky Balancing Act
Trump's public pressure lands just ahead of the Federal Open Market Committee's next policy meeting on March 17. That's when Fed officials will huddle and decide what, if anything, to do with the benchmark interest rate.
It's not a simple decision. On one hand, inflation is still running a bit hot. The latest consumer price data for February showed inflation at 2.4%, which is still above the Fed's stated 2% target. On the other hand, you have political pressure and concerns about growth, all while energy prices add another wrinkle to the inflation outlook.
Adding to the longer-term drama, Trump's nominee to lead the Fed, Kevin Warsh, is expected to take over from Powell in May. So the central bank might be getting a new captain right as it navigates these tricky waters.
So, to recap: stocks want to go up, oil won't come down, and the former president wants cheaper money right now. The Fed's meeting next week just got a little more interesting.
