Politics

Scott Bessent, Donald Trump's pick to serve as Treasury Secretary, handled a policy-heavy confirmation hearing with poise, highlighting his preference for relaxed bank regulation, support of the 2017 Trump tax cuts and a hawkish approach to spending.

With the Federal Reserve touting a slower pace of easing, markets are expecting a longer pause. But Gov. Christopher Waller said the next interest rate reduction could come as soon as March because of inflation data.

The incoming Trump administration's 'agency review team' has landed and is expected to name an acting director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Republicans on the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. or the Federal Trade Commission are among the most likely candidates.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's research found that the majority of buy now/pay later users are subprime borrowers, holding high credit card balances and multiple loans, suggesting the offering is riskier to lenders than previously assumed.

A cohort of bank industry interest groups called for the incoming Trump administration to pause all pending bank regulation and litigation and extend the timelines for implementing final rules issued by the Biden administration.

In a speech outlining his priorities for the FDIC, Vice Chair Travis Hill stressed the need for a more flexible regulatory approach, addressing capital requirements, digital assets, climate policy, and bank oversight, while emphasizing transparency and timely action.

Seen by many as a logical pick for the Federal Reserve's next vice chair for supervision, Gov. Michelle Bowman wants the institution to focus on safety and soundness issues, tailoring and transparency.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau said it would undertake a rule to regulate large participants in the personal loan market and consider a joint rulemaking with the Federal Reserve on check and ATM hold times.

The banking giant's exit from the global Net-Zero Banking Alliance leaves just three smaller U.S. banks in the group. Climate activists called large banks' departures a capitulation to Republicans' climate denialism.

The Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond president said while he believes the central bank's current level of rates is restraining the economy enough to continue lowering inflation in 2025, there are still upside risks to inflation and growth.