Trump' S Approval Rating Drops Amid Power Expansion Concerns

Political

Summary:

President Donald Trump’s approval rating has fallen to its lowest point since his return to the White House,...

President Donald Trump’s approval rating has fallen to its lowest point since his return to the White House, according to a new Reuters/Ipsos poll released Tuesday..

The survey found that just 42% of Americans approve of his job performance, down from 43% earlier this month and 47% immediately after his January 20 inauguration.

The drop comes as Trump faces growing public concern over his attempts to consolidate power.

The poll, which surveyed 4,306 adults over six days, highlighted deep unease over his use of executive orders to expand influence over both government and private institutions, including universities and cultural landmarks.

Around 57% of respondents — including one-third of Republicans — opposed cutting funding to universities for political reasons, and 66% rejected presidential control over national cultural institutions like museums and theaters, according to the poll.

Additionally, 83% said the president must follow federal court rulings, a rebuke to Trump’s recent immigration actions that potentially violate a judge’s order. On nearly every policy issue, including inflation, immigration, and the rule of law, more Americans disapproved than approved of Trump' s handling.

The Reuters/Ipsos poll also found that 59% believe the U.S. is losing credibility internationally, and 75% oppose Trump running for a third term — a prospect he has floated despite constitutional limits.

Source: Investing

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Devin

Central Bank

Jerome Powell, current Federal Reserve Chair, publicly dismissed the prospect of interest rate cuts in June, contradicting market expectations. This announcement, articulated last week, sparked substantial interest in financial sectors.

These developments matter as Powell's stance, aligned with persistent inflation and macroeconomic uncertainty, influences both traditional and crypto markets. Market volatility has intensified due to contrasting views on future rate policies.

Powell's Rate Decision Contradicts Optimistic Market Predictions

Jerome Powell recently dismissed market expectations for aggressive rate cuts at the Federal Reserve's June meeting, emphasizing major risks like rising tariffs and unstable inflation. Bill Dudley, former New York Fed President, noted that the optimistic market pricing could be prematurely elevated:

Market adjustments have occurred as participants react to the Fed rejecting rate cut prospects this year. Powell's comments triggered recalibration in futures pricing as investors reevaluate earlier assumptions.

Markets are overly optimistic regarding imminent Fed rate cuts, despite futures suggesting significant easing by year-end.

Responses within financial circles have varied, with notable figures emphasizing potential consequences. No direct reactions from prominent crypto leaders have emerged, but discussions intensify around the impact of monetary policies on digital assets.

Bitcoin's Historical Sensitivity to Fed Rate Announcements

Did you know? In 2020, amid emergency rate cuts, Bitcoin soared following a 150-basis-point reduction, signaling its sensitivity to monetary policy shifts.

As of April 21, 2025, CoinMarketCap reports Bitcoin's price at $87,993.05, with a market cap of $1.75 trillion and 24-hour trading volume at $32.73 billion, reflecting a 4.16% price increase over the past day. Such fluctuations show Bitcoin's responsiveness to policy environments.

Bitcoin(BTC), daily chart, screenshot on CoinMarketCap at 15:09 UTC on April 21, 2025. Source: CoinMarketCap

According to insights from Coincu's research team, Bitcoin's future may hinge on Fed policies. Historically, crypto markets respond dynamically to interest rate news. A shift to lower rates in the future could potentially enhance Bitcoin's appeal as an alternative asset, contrasting with traditional market performances.

Source: CryptoSlate

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ING

Economic

Central Bank

Fresh food prices eased, yet inflationary pressures broadened in March

Consumer inflation in Japan edged down to 3.6% year on year in March (vs 3.7% in February and market consensus) as fresh food prices stabilized modestly. Yet core inflation, excluding fresh food, accelerated to 3.2% (vs 3.0% in February) and core-core inflation, excluding fresh food and energy, also accelerated to a 2.9% pace (vs 2.6% in February). Both were in line with market consensus.

On a monthly basis, inflation rebounded 0.3% month on month, seasonally adjusted, in March (vs -0.1% in February) with both goods and services rising 0.2% each. Fresh food prices declined for a second month, yet the earlier pickup in costs is now passing on to other manufactured food prices and services, such as eating out.

April Tokyo CPI inflation data will be released on Friday. Prices are set to accelerate even faster than in March. This will also complicate the BoJ’s rate decision in the near term as trade war risks increase.

Core inflation picked up in March

Japanese inflation accelerates, complicating BoJ’s rate decision amid global uncertainty_1

BoJ watch

Downside risks to GDP are growing significantly even as inflation is accelerating. Also, Japanese yen trends are being closely watched by the US administration. We dropped our long-held May rate hike call last week, pushing it to July. We expect the BoJ to keep its policy rate unchanged at its May meeting even though inflation is still the key concern. The BoJ is likely to focus on economic uncertainty for now, just like many other central banks. The BoJ will base rate decisions on what happens with concessions made between the US and Japan and where the US tariffs policies go from here. We believe that by July, things will be clearer. Trade concessions will likely take shape by then, giving the BoJ more confidence to raise its policy rate in July. The BoJ's rate hike pace will be quite gradual. For now, we still pencil in two hikes next year -- in April and October 2026.

Source:ING

To stay updated on all economic events of today, please check out our Economic calendar

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Thomas

Cryptocurrency

Trump's Return Initiates Crypto Market Shakeup

Donald Trump’s return to the White House in January 2025 has coincided with a $760 billion loss in crypto market value, with significant strategic policy shifts announced from Washington.

Trump's return marks a pivotal moment for cryptocurrency markets, driven by strategic policy implementations resulting in immediate market volatility. Investors are reacting to the significant economic and regulatory shifts.

Policy Shifts and Market Reactions

Trump's return to power in early 2025 brought substantial changes in U.S. crypto policy. The government announced the creation of a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, managed by the Treasury, aiming to facilitate a federal digital asset stockpile.

"The working group will move forward on facilitating the strategic federal purchases of Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, Solana, and ADA." — Donald J. Trump, President of the United States

With the establishment of a digital asset stockpile, led by David Sacks, the U.S. is navigating new regulatory landscapes. The Treasury's role has expanded to include managing cryptocurrencies seized in criminal activities, marking a policy shift.

Impact on Crypto Markets

The policy changes have triggered a sharp decline in crypto market capitalization, wiping out $760 billion. Bitcoin prices experienced notable fluctuations with a decline from an all-time high to substantial lows. Regulatory actions led to the dissolution of certain enforcement activities, creating further market uncertainty.

The financial landscape is experiencing turbulence, impacting crypto holders and markets globally. The number of Bitcoin millionaire addresses fell, indicative of a shift in investor confidence post-policy implementation. Volatile market conditions continue to pose challenges.

Strategic Changes and Future Considerations

Trump's policy actions reflect a significant departure from his earlier anti-crypto stance, focusing on national strategic reserves. Despite the optimistic economic assertions, markets responded negatively. Further analysis considers potential long-term regulatory impacts on market stability.

In response to reduced enforcement, the crypto market has yet to stabilize fully, suggesting potential challenges for governmental regulation and market resilience. The evolution of these strategic initiatives remains a focal point for economists and investors alike.

The content on The CCPress is provided for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial or investment advice. Cryptocurrency investments carry inherent risks. Please consult a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions.

Source: CryptoSlate

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Damon

Economic

Trump's Economic Policies and Their Impact on Cryptocurrency Markets

In recent months, President Trump's economic strategies have garnered significant attention, particularly concerning their implications for inflation and the broader financial markets. As traders and investors navigate these turbulent waters, the cryptocurrency market has not remained untouched.

Trump's declaration of a national emergency aimed at increasing the U.S.'s competitive edge has sparked discussions about the future of economic policies and their direct impact on inflation. With inflation rates being a pivotal concern for both traditional and digital asset investors, the relationship between Trump's policies and cryptocurrency valuations is becoming increasingly relevant.

Moreover, Trump's advocacy for preemptive rate cuts amidst claims of low inflation has raised eyebrows among crypto traders. These rate cuts could potentially lead to a more favorable environment for cryptocurrencies, as lower interest rates often drive investors towards riskier assets.

As the economic landscape evolves, trader sentiment is heavily influenced by the news emanating from the White House. Understanding the interplay between Trump's economic decisions and the cryptocurrency market is crucial for investors looking to navigate this complex environment.

Source: CryptoSlate

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Warren Takunda

Economic

Stocks

Asian equities and U.S. stock futures slid on Monday as anxiety over tariffs and criticism of the Federal Reserve by President Donald Trump shook investor confidence, pushing the dollar sharply lower and catapulting safe-haven gold to a record high.

Trump launched a scathing attack against Fed Chair Jerome Powell on Thursday, with his team evaluating whether they could fire Powell, a move that would cast doubts about the central bank's independence and further erode faith in U.S. assets.

Most markets were closed on Friday and some, including most of Europe, remained on holiday for Easter Monday, leading to thin liquidity.

S&P 500 futures fell 0.75% and Nasdaq futures slid 0.8%. In Asia, Japan's Nikkei and Taiwan's benchmark index were down more than 1% but Chinese stocks inched higher.

"Markets are already on edge due to escalating geopolitical tensions, and now concerns are rising that Trump's potential interference with the Fed could add another layer of uncertainty," said Charu Chanana, chief investment strategist at Saxo in Singapore.

"Any signs of political pressure on monetary policy could undermine the Fed’s independence and complicate the path ahead for interest rates just as investors are looking for stability amid global volatility."

Trump's tariffs have roiled financial markets and triggered a selloff in Treasuries and the dollar in April that stoked doubt in the long-held belief in the safe-haven status of U.S. assets.

The drop in confidence in U.S. assets has been exacerbated by Trump's attacks on the Fed and Powell through last week.

The relentless selling in the dollar led euro to a three-year high on Monday, while the yen hit a seven-month peak. The Swiss franc strengthened to its highest against the dollar in over 10 years.

Chicago Federal Reserve President Austan Goolsbee said on Sunday that he hopes the United States is not moving to an environment where the ability of the central bank to set monetary policy independent of political pressure is questioned.

The Fed's credibility as the world's most powerful central bank rests largely on its historic independence to act free from political influence.

The yield on the benchmark U.S. 10-year Treasury note rose 3.5 basis points in Asian hours.

The two-year yield, which typically moves in step with interest rate expectations, was down 3.6 bps as traders weighed the possibility of rate cuts following pressure from Trump.

U.S. EARNINGS IN FOCUS

With the U.S. earnings season kicking off, investor focus this week will be on results from tech bellwether Alphabet, chipmaker Intel and EV maker Tesla.

All the 'Magnificent Seven' megacap stocks are sharply lower in 2025, with Alphabet down about 20% and Tesla off 40%.

Companies and investors are grappling with a tariff landscape that is likely to keep shifting as the Trump administration negotiates with countries.

While Trump has paused some of the heftiest levies on imports, the U.S. is also locked in a trade battle with China, the world's second-largest economy.

Early April data from South Korea showed a sharp fall in exports, suggesting U.S. tariffs are starting to hit the global economy harder. South Korea and the United States are due to hold trade talks this week.

Trump said on Friday the U.S. is having good conversations privately with China amid the two countries' trade war. But China's ambassador to the United States has said the U.S. should show respect before any talks can take place.

In commodities, gold prices rose more than 1% to touch a record high of $3,370.17 per ounce, taking its gains so far this year to 26%. The metal has been consistently hitting record highs this year, buoyed by safe-haven flows.

Oil prices fell on Monday after nuclear talks between the United States and Iran showed progress, easing concerns that the dispute will reduce supply from the major Middle Eastern producer.

Brent crude futures fell 1.75% to $66.77 a barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was at $63.55 per barrel, also down 1.75%.

Bitcoin prices touched its highest level since April 2 and was last up 2.89% at $87,515.88.

Source: Reuters

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Michelle

Commodity

Stocks

Shares of major gold mining companies, including Newmont (NYSE: NEM), Barrick Gold (NYSE: NYSE:GOLD), Agnico Eagle Mines (NYSE: NYSE:AEM), Kinross Gold (NYSE: NYSE:KGC), AngloGold Ashanti (NYSE: AU) climbed 3% following a surge in gold prices to a record high, driven by a combination of US dollar weakness, criticism of the Federal Reserve, and ongoing trade war concerns.

Gold’s rally, which saw bullion surpassing $3,400 an ounce, came amidst the US currency falling to its lowest point since late 2023. The market’s move was further influenced by President Donald Trump’s consideration of firing Fed Chair Jerome Powell and advocating for lower interest rates. These developments have raised concerns over the independence of the Federal Reserve and potential politicization of US monetary policy.

The precious metal has experienced a significant uptrend this year as the trade conflict between the US and China has led to market uncertainty and a shift towards safer investments. The appetite for risk assets has weakened, while demand for havens has grown, as evidenced by a 12-week increase in holdings of bullion-backed exchange-traded funds—the longest such streak since 2022. Additionally, central banks have been accumulating gold in their reserves, contributing to strong global demand.

Amid these market conditions, banks have revised their outlook on gold, with some, like Goldman Sachs Group Inc (NYSE:GS)., predicting the metal could reach $4,000 by the middle of next year.