Billy Long's brief tenure as IRS commissioner ended quickly after he began to assert his authority, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent seeking greater control over the agency, highlighting internal power struggles shortly after Long's appointment by President Trump.
Scott Bessent, the U.S. Treasury Secretary, is committed to supporting Trump's economic policies and has declined a potential Federal Reserve chairmanship to focus on strengthening the American economy through initiatives like stabilizing the dollar and boosting Main Street, while maintaining a close relationship with Trump and his family.
President Trump publicly disputed a Wall Street Journal article claiming his Treasury Secretary advised him against firing Fed Chair Powell, asserting he knows better what’s good for the market. This comes amid ongoing tensions and Trump’s recent lawsuit against the WSJ over a separate story involving a letter to Jeffrey Epstein. Trump also indicated he might consider firing Powell but has not made a final decision.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent discreetly advised President Trump against firing Fed Chair Jerome Powell, emphasizing legal risks, market stability, and strategic timing, which ultimately helped preserve Powell's position and avoid a potential crisis.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is emerging as a potential candidate to replace Jerome Powell as Fed chair, with some encouraging his selection amid a small list of contenders, though Powell's term extends until 2026.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent dismisses Jamie Dimon's warnings about a potential bond market collapse, despite Dimon's long history of accurate predictions and cautious outlooks, highlighting ongoing concerns about the US economy amid mounting debt and deficits.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has cautioned the incoming Trump administration against making radical changes to the current bank regulatory framework, emphasizing the importance of maintaining oversight on banks' capital, liquidity, and risk-taking to prevent financial crises. Yellen acknowledged the need to reduce regulatory burdens but warned against undermining the system that ensures financial stability, referencing past bank failures like Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank. Her comments come amid concerns that Trump's team may seek to reduce or eliminate key bank regulators.
Scott Bessent, a hedge fund manager, has been selected by President-elect Donald Trump as a potential Treasury Secretary, despite not fitting the typical mold of a Trump loyalist. This choice suggests a departure from Trump's usual preference for appointing close allies to key positions.
Scott Bessent's likely appointment as Treasury Secretary is expected to boost financial deregulation and lending, benefiting private equity and business development companies (BDCs). This environment is favorable for BDCs like the VanEck BDC Income ETF (BIZD), which offers an 11% yield. Bessent's policies may lead to increased M&A activity and sticky inflation, challenging bond investors but creating opportunities for BDCs to thrive.
Donald Trump has nominated Scott Bessent, a gay billionaire and founder of Key Square Group, as treasury secretary, marking a historic first for an out gay cabinet secretary in a Republican administration. Bessent, a former Soros Fund Management partner, has supported Trump's economic policies and donated to Republicans, despite Trump's controversial LGBTQ+ rights record. If confirmed, Bessent plans to focus on making Trump's tax cuts permanent and using tariffs as a negotiating tool.
MSNBC host Jonathan Capehart expressed mixed feelings about President-elect Donald Trump's nomination of openly gay hedge fund manager Scott Bessent as Treasury Secretary, noting the historic nature of the appointment by a Republican. Bessent, founder of Key Square Group, would become the highest-ranking openly LGBTQ official if confirmed. The nomination was well-received by Wall Street, with markets rallying on the news.
U.S. stock markets closed at record highs as investors reacted positively to President-elect Donald Trump's nomination of Scott Bessent as Treasury Secretary. The Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 both reached new peaks, while the Russell 2000 also hit a record high. Bessent, a respected hedge fund manager, is expected to influence Trump's economic policies, including fiscal strategies and trade negotiations. The announcement also impacted bond markets, with strong demand for 2-year Treasury notes. Meanwhile, Macy's shares fell due to an accounting investigation.
President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Scott Bessent, a former top executive at George Soros's investment fund, as Treasury Secretary. This choice is notable given Trump's previous criticism of Soros, a frequent target of right-wing antisemitic conspiracy theories. Bessent, who has aligned with Trump's economic views, was chosen over other Jewish candidates and is praised by Wall Street figures for his potential to implement Trump's economic agenda.
U.S. stock futures are rising on optimism over Scott Bessent's selection as Treasury Secretary, while bitcoin remains near $100,000, boosting MicroStrategy shares. Super Micro Computer's stock continues to climb after meeting Nasdaq compliance, and Rocket Lab USA shares soar following successful launches. Meanwhile, Peabody Energy's stock drops after announcing a $3.8 billion acquisition of coal assets from Anglo American.
Gold prices fell by up to 2.1% as traders reacted to Donald Trump's nomination of Scott Bessent as Treasury Secretary and anticipated the Federal Reserve's upcoming interest rate decision. Bessent's nomination is seen as stabilizing for the US economy, potentially reducing gold's appeal as an inflation hedge. Despite a recent rally driven by geopolitical tensions, profit-taking and a strong US business activity report contributed to the decline. Investors are now focused on upcoming economic data that may influence the Fed's rate path.