In this video, Ira Epstein discusses the potential market impact of Trump's rumored intention to fire Fed Chair Powell, highlighting the uncertainty this creates in financial markets, particularly with regard to interest rates and the US dollar.
Simply Good Foods delivered results in line with Wall Street’s expectations for the second quarter, driven by continued double-digit growth in its Quest and Owen brands, which now comprise roughly 70% of the company’s portfolio. CEO Geoff Tanner credited category momentum in high-protein, low-sugar snacks as a key driver, noting, “Quest approaches $1 billion in net sales and continues to see a long runway of opportunity.” However, ongoing declines in the Atkins brand, primarily due to distribution losses and reduced merchandising, weighed on overall performance. Management acknowledged margin pressure from inflation in inputs like cocoa and whey, partially offset by productivity and selective pricing actions.
Conagra's second quarter faced notable headwinds, drawing a negative market response as both revenue and adjusted earnings per share came in below Wall Street expectations. Management attributed the underperformance to persistent inflationary pressures, particularly in animal protein inputs and packaging, as well as lingering supply chain constraints that impacted production in core categories like frozen foods and snacks. CEO Sean Connolly acknowledged, “the confluence of high inflation and higher investment to drive volume translates to temporary margin compression,” highlighting the deliberate trade-off between supporting brand strength and short-term profitability.
The Nasdaq Composite extended its record-setting streak to three straight sessions, while the broader S&P 500 Index closed within 20 points of a record high.
Markets shook off a midday ditch to ramp back up into the green as of today’s close. A report that President Trump intended on firing Fed Chair Jerome Powell sent all major indexes into the loss column, but it was a temporary condition.
Leading cryptocurrencies rose alongside stocks on Wednesday as President Donald Trump denied that he plans to remove Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell.
In this video, Ira Epstein discusses the potential implications of the President's comments about firing Fed Chair Powell, highlighting the importance of the Fed's independence from political influence.
Many were shocked after the latest CPI and PPI data confirmed that the experts were once again dead wrong, and instead of the widely expected inflation tsunami, Trump's tariffs have so far sparked only continued disinflation.
The markets had a little thrill ride today, as word of Trump's desire to fire and replace Fed Chair Jerome Powell roiled markets, sending stocks and the Dollar plunging, and gold and silver soaring.
Regional banking company Home Bancshares (NYSE:HOMB) reported Q2 CY2025 results beating Wall Street’s revenue expectations, with sales up 6.1% year on year to $271 million. Its non-GAAP profit of $0.58 per share was 2.2% above analysts’ consensus estimates.
Gold price rose during the North American session by 0.78%, helped by US President Donald Trump's comments on firing Fed Chair Jerome Powell, despite his denials of the remarks, saying it is highly unlikely to fire him unless there is fraud.
Odds of Jerome Powell's removal hit new highs as Trump waves draft firing letter. Political pressure and inflation data drive markets into uncertainty.
Cryptocurrency markets are trading higher on Wednesday after President Trump dismissed rumors that he may remove Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell from his post.
Shares of blockchain infrastructure company Coinbase (NASDAQ:COIN) jumped 3.1% in the afternoon session after momentum improved in the crypto space with strong uptrend in Bitcoin and Ethereum.
Shares of financial services company Robinhood (NASDAQ:HOOD)
jumped 4.3% in the afternoon session after an analyst at Piper Sandler significantly raised their price target on the stock. The investment firm boosted its price target on the online brokerage to $110 from $70, while maintaining an "overweight" rating on the shares. This move signals strong confidence from the analyst in the company's future performance.
