News

Federal Reserve likely to defy Trump, keep rates unchanged this week

The Federal Reserve will likely keep its key short-term interest rate unchanged on Wednesday, despite weeks of harsh criticism and demands from President Donald Trump that the Fed reduce borrowing costs. After causing a sharp drop in financial markets two weeks ago by saying he could fire Fed Chair Jerome Powell, Trump subsequently backed off and said he had no intention of doing so. The Fed sharply ramped up its short-term rate in 2022 and 2023 as pandemic-era inflation spiked.

Big Oil earnings show split in production strategy, shareholder returns

HOUSTON/LONDON (Reuters) -Big Oil's first-quarter earnings have shown a clear split in how companies are positioned to weather the downturn sparked by a slump in oil prices to a four-year low in April. Investors were focused on whether companies would cut share repurchases, since lower crude prices would leave them with less cash to fund the programs. Buybacks and dividends are key to investor interest in the oil industry.