US Stock Futures Signal Rebound After Fed Concerns: Markets Wrap

(Bloomberg) -- US equity futures signaled a rebound from sharp declines on Monday spurred by concerns over President Donald Trump’s latest criticism of the Federal Reserve and the outlook for the American economy.

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Contracts for the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq 100 gained 1% after the underlying gauges slumped more than 2% in Monday’s session. Europe’s Stoxx 600 index dropped as traders returned from the Easter break, while Asian equities were little changed. An index of the dollar’s strength steadied after weakening to a 15-month low.

While there were some signs of recovery in demand for riskier assets, investors were still attracted to havens, with gold surging to a fresh record, while the yen strengthened beyond 140 per dollar for the first time since September.

Investors are wading through a slew of headlines on tariff talks after Trump ratcheted up his global trade war this month by imposing the highest levies in a century. Concerns Trump may be preparing to fire Fed Chair Jerome Powell have increased unease among traders, who are looking ahead to earnings from Tesla Inc. and Alphabet Inc. this week for clues on how companies are navigating this new environment.

Trump’s tirades have forced a reappraisal of the assets fundamental to US economic dominance. The dollar and Treasuries, traditional havens at times of stress, suddenly look much less appealing. Investors are also weighing Trump’s warning that the US economy may slow if the Federal Reserve does not immediately reduce interest rates.

“With increasing rhetoric from the administration admonishing the Fed to cut rates and the markets entertaining intensifying discussions about the possibility of replacing the Fed chair, we don’t expect a rush back into the market from abroad,” John Velis, a strategist at Bank of New York Mellon, said of US bonds. “The haven status of such assets is increasingly in question.”

The greenback was mixed against Group-of-10 peers Tuesday, while the yen outperformed, with the Bank of Japan said to be on course to keep raising rates. Meanwhile, China let the yuan weaken against almost all major currencies to support its economy as the trade war with the US deepens.

Read: Bearish Dollar Bets Move Toward Levels That Raise Risk of Recoil

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