$800 Billion China Risk, Powell Holds Line, No Rush to Russia

(1) US investors could be forced to offload around $800 billion of Chinese equities “in an extreme scenario” of financial decoupling between the world’s two largest economies, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. estimates. (2) The Trump administration is preparing to pressure nations to curb trade with China in negotiations over US tariffs, according to people familiar with the matter. (3) Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell again stressed the central bank must ensure tariffs don’t trigger a more persistent rise in inflation. Powell said policymakers would balance their dual responsibilities of fostering maximum employment and stable prices. (4) Economic data just confirmed what anecdotal evidence had suggested: Consumers are rushing to make major purchases of cars, electronics and appliances in an attempt to get ahead of tariffs that could raise prices. (5) Gold hit another all-time high as warnings from Federal Reserve Chief Jerome Powell about the impact of the trade war fueled volatility on Wall Street, leading to sharp declines in stocks and the dollar. (6) Vladimir Putin has ordered his government to draw up a new legal framework for companies seeking to invest in Russia. It’s the most concrete sign yet that Moscow is preparing for a day when it believes sanctions will be lifted and some investment welcomed back. But, said one Kremlin official, “nobody is knocking on the door yet” underlining the tentative nature of the approaches taken by companies — some of whom never fully left — to restoring their operations in the country, as US President Donald Trump pushes for a deal to end Russia’s war in Ukraine. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.