US Deficit Hits 3-Year Low on Tariffs, But Headwinds Grow

President Donald Trump has openly encouraged Iranians to continue their widespread protests against the government, promising that "help is on the way" and urging them to "take over your institutions, if possible."

Speaking in Detroit, Trump issued a direct warning to the Iranian leadership under Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. "Save their names because they'll pay a very big price," he stated, escalating his rhetoric against the regime.

US Signals Economic and Military Options

Trump's speech reinforces a message he posted on social media earlier the same day. It also follows a major policy announcement that the United States would impose a 25% tariff on any nation that conducts business with Iran.

While the president did not specify what further actions the U.S. might take, he previously told reporters that his administration was evaluating "some very strong options."

The president’s stance has become increasingly firm. In a Fox News interview last week, Trump declared the U.S. would hit Iran "very hard" if its government continued to shoot at protestors. A White House official also confirmed over the weekend that Trump has been briefed on a range of potential military strikes in Iran, which include nonmilitary sites.

A Nation in Turmoil

Iran has been gripped by weeks of mass unrest, representing the most significant challenge to the Islamic Republic's authority since the 1979 revolution that overthrew the country's ruling dynasty.

The protests were initially triggered by a currency crisis and deteriorating economic conditions. However, the movement has since evolved, with demonstrators increasingly targeting the regime itself.

President Donald Trump intensified his criticism of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell on Tuesday, labeling him either "incompetent" or "crooked" as the Department of Justice faces mounting opposition to its criminal investigation of the central bank chief.

The president’s remarks came in response to questions about whether the DOJ’s probe undermines the Federal Reserve's long-held independence from the executive branch.

Renovation Costs at the Heart of the Dispute

Trump's criticism appeared to reference the multibillion-dollar renovation of the Fed's Washington headquarters, which is the focus of the DOJ's investigation. "He's billions of dollars over budget," Trump told reporters.

"So, he either is incompetent or he's crooked," Trump said outside the White House. "I don't know what he is. But he does a – certainly he doesn't do a very good job."

Later, during a speech at the Detroit Economic Club after touring a Ford auto plant in Michigan, Trump continued his attacks, saying of Powell, "That jerk will be gone soon."

Figure 1: President Donald Trump and Fed Chair Jerome Powell tour the Federal Reserve's renovation site in Washington, the project at the center of a Department of Justice investigation.

Bipartisan Backlash Mounts Over Fed Investigation

The escalating rhetoric coincides with growing bipartisan criticism of the investigation and strong support for the Federal Reserve's autonomy.

JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon weighed in on Tuesday after the bank's fourth-quarter earnings release. "Everyone we know believes in Fed independence," Dimon told reporters. "Anything that chips away at that is probably not a great idea."

Dimon warned that such actions could backfire, stating, "it will have the reverse consequences, it will raise inflation expectations and probably increase rates over time."

His concerns were echoed by Republican lawmakers, including staunch Trump allies. "If you wanted to design a system to guarantee that interest rates would go up and not down, the best way to do that would be to have the Federal Reserve and the executive branch of the United States get in a pissing contest," said Senate Banking Committee member John Kennedy, R-La., on Monday. "We need this like we need a hole in the head."

CNBC also learned that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has privately expressed concerns to Trump that the DOJ probe could complicate the confirmation process for the next Fed chair when Powell's term expires in May.

DOJ and Fed Officials Trade Public Statements

Despite the criticism, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro indicated her Washington, D.C., office will not back down. In a post on X, she stated that her office had been "ignored" after multiple attempts to discuss cost overruns and Powell's congressional testimony with the Federal Reserve, "necessitating the use of legal process—which is not a threat."

"The word 'indictment' has come out of Mr. Powell's mouth, no one else's," Pirro wrote. "None of this would have happened if they had just responded to our outreach." She added, "We agree with the chairman of the Federal Reserve that no one is above the law, and that is why we expect his full cooperation."

Powell Links Probe to Interest Rate Pressure

Powell addressed the situation in a video statement Sunday night, confirming the DOJ had served grand jury subpoenas and threatened a "criminal indictment" related to his Senate testimony about the renovations.

He directly connected the legal action to Trump's public complaints about the Fed's monetary policy. "The threat of criminal charges is a consequence of the Federal Reserve setting interest rates based on our best assessment of what will serve the public, rather than following the preferences of the President," Powell said.

While affirming that "no one, certainly not the chair of the Federal Reserve, is above the law," Powell urged that "this unprecedented action should be seen in the broader context of the administration's threats and ongoing pressure."

Trump has denied any connection between the investigation and his views on interest rates. "No. I wouldn't even think of doing it that way," he told NBC News on Sunday. "What should pressure him is the fact that rates are far too high. That's the only pressure he's got."

Chile, the world's leading copper producer, may be on the verge of breaking a two-decade-long period of stagnant output. According to the country's mining industry association, Sonami, a new government initiative to cut red tape and ease regulations could unlock significant growth.

This move could provide a much-needed boost to a tightening global copper market, where prices have recently surged to record highs.

New Government Eyes 20% Output Boost

Sonami President Jorge Riesco stated that he agrees with projections from President-elect José Antonio Kast’s team, which suggest mining output could climb by 10% to 20% within the next two years. Riesco confirmed these projections were developed following consultations with Sonami.

The core of the strategy involves a pro-growth agenda focused on removing investment barriers. This could free up billions of dollars for mine expansions, leading to a substantial increase in production.

Chile's annual copper output, which slipped to 5.4 million metric tons last year, is already forecast by Sonami to reach between 5.5 million and 5.7 million tons this year, partly driven by high prices incentivizing more supply. The new policies aim to push production closer to the 6 million-ton mark.

Why More Chilean Copper Matters for the Global Market

An increase in Chilean supply would be welcome news for the global copper market. Prices recently soared above $6 a pound, and analysts have warned of a potential supply squeeze as producers struggle to keep pace with rising demand.

New Demand from AI and Defense

The supply-demand imbalance is being intensified by growing consumption from sectors like artificial intelligence and increased defense spending, creating upward pressure on prices.

Two Decades of Stagnant Production

Chile's situation reflects a broader challenge across the global mining industry. While the development of giant deposits like Escondida once cemented the nation's dominance, output has remained largely flat for twenty years. This stagnation is primarily due to declining ore grades and the increasing complexity and cost of new mining projects.

Investment Outlook and Price Forecasts

Despite the current price rally, Sonami forecasts that copper will average around $4.50 a pound this year, anticipating that some recent market disruptions will ease.

The investment landscape shows a mixed short-term picture. While mining investment in Chile is expected to fall by about 20% this year, the long-term outlook remains strong. Projections show a total investment of $26.8 billion between 2025 and 2029.

A Radical Challenge to Fed Policy

Speaking at the Detroit Economic Club on Tuesday, President Donald Trump launched a sharp critique of the Federal Reserve's approach to interest rates, arguing for a fundamental reversal of conventional monetary policy.

Trump asserted that the central bank should be cutting rates, not raising them, in response to positive economic data. He contrasted the current environment with a previous era, stating, "In the old days, when you had good numbers, interest rates would go down. When you had good numbers, the market would go through the roof."

How Rate Hikes "Kill" Market Rallies

The president expressed deep frustration with the Fed's current strategy, claiming it stifles market potential. He argued that strong economic announcements now often trigger market declines because investors immediately begin to price in the prospect of the Federal Reserve raising rates to cool the economy.

"Today, if you announce great numbers, they raise interest rates to try and kill it," Trump explained. "So you can never really have the kind of rally you should have."

A New Vision for Aggressive Growth

Describing the current Fed chair as "a real stiff," Trump hinted that a new administration would pursue a dramatically different monetary course. He advocated for lowering interest rates precisely when the market is performing well to fuel further expansion.

"When the market goes up they should lower rates," he said. "You want to see 20% and 25%. You want to see what we can do." According to Trump, this aggressive approach would make the country "great."

He also touted the current strength of the U.S. economy, claiming it is significantly outpacing its global peers. "We're already growing double, triple and even quadruple the speed of almost every other major economy on Earth," he said, concluding with a bold declaration: "The Trump economic boom is officially begun."

Source: Reuters

Argentina's inflation rate climbed for the fourth consecutive month in December, exceeding analyst expectations and presenting a major hurdle for President Javier Milei's administration. Taming rising prices is critical for his goal of attracting foreign direct investment.

December Inflation Data Exceeds Forecasts

Consumer prices jumped 2.8% in December, outpacing the 2.5% median forecast from economists in a Bloomberg survey.

On an annual basis, inflation reached 31.5%. Despite the monthly acceleration, this marks the lowest year-end figure recorded since 2017, according to official government data.

Key Drivers Behind Rising Consumer Prices

Several key sectors fueled the price increases last month. The primary drivers included:

• Transportation

• Utilities

• Food, with beef cited as a notable seasonal factor

• Tourism

• Regulated services

This trend continues a pattern seen since September, with monthly inflation consistently remaining above the 2% mark.

Milei's Victory and a New Central Bank Strategy

The recent inflation figures come after a period of political volatility. A local election loss for Milei in Buenos Aires in September triggered a run on the peso. However, his subsequent landslide presidential victory in October helped stabilize the national currency.

In response to economic pressures, Argentina's central bank is overhauling its foreign exchange policy to build up foreign reserves. The previous system allowed the peso to trade within a narrow band that widened by a fixed 1% each month. Starting in January, this policy has changed: the band's expansion is now directly tied to the monthly inflation rate.

This means December's 2.8% inflation will cause the peso's trading range to expand at a faster pace in February.

Economic Forecasts for 2026

Looking ahead, economists surveyed by the central bank project a significant slowdown in inflation. The consensus forecast sees the annual rate falling to 20.1% by 2026, with economic growth projected to reach 3.5%.