President Trump has said he will "demand" lower interest rates, raising questions about his ability to influence the Federal Reserve.

Economists expect the Federal Reserve to keep interest rates unchanged as its Open Market Committee is set to conclude its meeting on Wednesday afternoon.

The Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation gauge moved even higher in December, driven in part by rising food and energy prices. However, a closely watched measurement of underlying inflation trends indicated some progress in the fight to rein in price hikes.

Investors react to the Federal Reserve's policy decision and Chairman Jerome Powell's press conference, as well as results from Meta, Microsoft and Tesla.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The American economy ended 2024 on a solid note with consumer spending continuing to drive growth. The Commerce Department reported Thursday that gross domestic product — the economy’s output of goods and services — expanded at a 2.3% annual rate from October through December.

A humming American economy ended 2024 on a solid note with consumer spending continuing to drive growth, and ahead of what could be a significant change in direction under a Trump

The week's investing action plan includes a strong dose of pharma and biotech earnings, January econ reports, plus Amazon and Alphabet.

Stocks rose in January of that year, with the S&P 500 gaining 5.6%. But the index ultimately finished the year down 6.2%, according to FactSet data, after rising bond yields provoked a panic on Wall Street late in the year.

Stocks rose in early 2025, even as fears over tariffs, rates and China’s surprise AI win took turns rattling investors.

Shares of Chevron slid by more than 3% even after the oil giant boosted its dividends. Exxon's liquids production rate remained at a 40-year high as offshore Guyana fields prove even more lucrative than hoped. Oil futures slipped 0.3% to $72.53 a barrel.

The Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation measure accelerated slightly in December, as price growth remains stubbornly above the central bank’s 2% annual target.Fed policymakers are on hold with interest rates until the inflation picture improves.