Bloomberg Businessweek Podcast • Browse all episodes

Watch Carol and Tim LIVE every day on YouTube: http://bit.ly/3vTiACF. Bloomberg Intelligence Chief US Interest Rate Strategist Ira Jersey and Veronica Willis, Global Investment Strategist at Wells Fargo Investment Institute, discuss Federal Reserve officials holding their benchmark interest rate steady for a second straight meeting, though they telegraphed expectations for slower economic growth and higher inflation. The Federal Open Market Committee voted on Wednesday to keep the benchmark federal funds rate in a range of 4.25%-4.5%, and said it would further slow the pace at which it is reducing its balance sheet. Governor Christopher Waller, who supported holding rates steady, dissented from the decision over the balance sheet move. The decision to hold rates steady comes as President Donald Trump’s ambitious and frequently erratic policy agenda has placed the economy, and the Fed’s ability to keep it on track, under increasing pressure. Trump’s ever-changing plans to levy tariffs on US trading partners have stoked fears of an economic slowdown and raised fresh worries over inflation – a combination that could pull policymakers in opposite directions. Ryan Detrick, Chief Market Strategist at the Carson Group, provides a technical analysis of the markets. Journalist Charles Hecker discusses his book Zero Sum: The Arc of International Business in Russia. Bloomberg Businessweek Columnist Max Chafkin discusses Elon Musk’s X raising close to $1 billion in fresh equity funding. Hosts: Carol Massar and Tim Stenovec. Producer: Paul Brennan.

Mar 19, 2025