Bloomberg Businessweek

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Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell had plenty of opportunities Tuesday to tell lawmakers definitively the central bank will cut interest rates soon. He didn’t take any of them.

Instead, Powell reiterated his view that policymakers need not rush to adjust policy, a counter to President Donald Trump’s demands and recent statements from Fed Governors Christopher Waller and Michelle Bowman that signaled the two would be open to lowering rates as soon as July.
“If it turns out that inflation pressures do remain contained, then we will get to a place where we cut rates, sooner rather than later,” Powell said in response to a question about the possibility of a rate cut next month during a House Financial Services Committee hearing. “But I wouldn’t want to point to a particular meeting. I don’t think we need to be in any rush because the economy is still strong.”
Powell’s remarks before the congressional panel came on the heels of the Fed’s decision last week to leave interest rates unchanged in a range of 4.25%-4.5%. He has maintained policymakers should take a cautious approach to rate cuts as they wait for more clarity on the impacts of Trump’s economic policies, particularly on tariffs.

“The effects of tariffs will depend, among other things, on their ultimate level,” Powell said. “For the time being, we are well positioned to wait to learn more about the likely course of the economy before considering any adjustments to our policy stance.”
Today's show features:

• Michael McKee, Bloomberg International Economics and Policy Correspondent and Alix Steel, Bloomberg Radio and TV host, on Powell testimony and global oil markets
• Bloomberg Middle East Geoeconomics Reporter Dina Esfandiary on latest in the Middle East
• Craig Trudell, Bloomberg Global Autos Editor & Bloomberg Businessweek Senior Reporter Max Chafkin on boom in driverless cars
• Katie Hubbard, EVP of Capital Markets for Walton Global

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Tony Capaccio, Bloomberg Pentagon Reporter discusses how the US hit Iran, possible retaliation tactics, and next steps from the US to deter further conflict.

Iran pledged to respond “proportionately and decisively” to US strikes at the weekend and Qatar suspended traffic over its airspace, amid signs American bases there could be targeted as the conflict between the Islamic Republic and Israel showed signs of boiling over.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Iran was moving missile launchers for a possible attack on American forces, citing US officials. Axios reported that missiles had been launched toward US bases in Qatar. The White House didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.

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President Donald Trump announced that Israel and Iran had agreed to a tentative ceasefire in their conflict that would begin around midnight Washington time on Monday.

Trump, who made the surprise announcement on his Truth Social platform days after ordering airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, said the accord is aimed at a lasting end to the fighting.

“On the assumption that everything works as it should, which it will, I would like to congratulate both Countries, Israel and Iran, on having the Stamina, Courage, and Intelligence to end, what should be called “THE 12 DAY WAR.”  

For instant reaction and analysis, host Doug Krizner spoke with Bloomberg Balance of Power cohost Joe Mathieu, and Jonathan Panikoff, director of the Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative at the Atlantic Council's Middle East Program.  

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Iran fired missiles at a US air base in Qatar after promising it would respond “proportionately and decisively” to President Donald Trump’s weekend airstrikes on three of its nuclear facilities.
There were no reported casualties in the attack on Al Udeid base — the biggest such US facility in the Middle East — amid signs Iran gave advance notice of the strike plan. Qatar said the missile barrage was intercepted and the base had been evacuated in advance. Oil plunged on relief that Tehran’s limited response didn’t target energy supplies. The salvo marks another widening in the conflict that began 10 days ago when Israel attacked Iran, targeting nuclear and missile installations and military leaders. Iran has responded with several days of missile strikes on Israel, and the war threatened to escalate after the US joined the campaign with a bunker-buster bombing raid.

Iran’s move “looks like a largely symbolic retaliation,” saud Ziad Daoud, Bloomberg Economics’ chief emerging-market economist. “Plenty of warning was given — Qatar shut its airspace and the US issued warnings to citizens.”
Trump said the nuclear sites struck by the US were totally destroyed, and vowed to meet any Iranian retaliation with force “far greater” than those weekend strikes. He also hinted at the possibility of “regime change” in Iran, though US officials stressed that isn’t their aim. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the strikes had the “limited” objective of eliminating Iran’s atomic program. Officials have said it’s too early to definitely assess damage.

There was no immediate indication of how the US will respond to Monday’s Iranian missile launch. The administration was anticipating that Iran would retaliate, and doesn’t want more military engagement in the region, CNN cited a senior White House official as saying.
The attack included at least six missiles fired toward Al Udeid — the regional headquarters for US Central Command, which oversees the American military in the region, and home to several thousand US service-members — according to a person familiar with the matter.

Today's show features:

• Bloomberg News National Security Team Leader Nick Wadhams on potential Iran retaliation and security back in the US
• Ariel Cohen, Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council on Geopolitical Tensions in Middle East
• Torsten Slok, Chief Economist and Partner at Apollo Global Management
• and we Drive to the Close with Megan Horneman, Verdence Capital Advisors CIO

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Jennie Glazer, CEO at Coqual, a global think tank helping companies redesign how they work and lead. A strategist, facilitator, and builder of high-performing teams, Jennie leads Coqual’s research, advisory, and insight platforms—guiding senior leaders through complexity and toward clarity, trust, and measurable impact. Here, she discusses their latest report that offers urgent new data, stark realities, and a path forward for companies navigating rising backlash, legal uncertainty, and employee fear.

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American bombers struck Iran’s three main nuclear sites overnight, putting the US directly into Tehran’s war with Israel despite President Donald Trump’s longtime promises to avoid new conflicts.

Addressing the nation late on Saturday in Washington, Trump said Iran’s “key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated.” He threatened “far greater” attacks if Iran doesn’t make peace, raising the specter of even deeper US involvement in a Middle Eastern war that began with Israel’s strikes on the Islamic Republic nine days ago.

Trump earlier said US planes dropped bombs on Fordow, a uranium-enrichment site buried deep under a mountain and seen as vulnerable only to “bunker buster” munitions that the US possesses. Natanz and Isfahan, two other sites, were also struck.

“Our objective was the destruction of Iran’s nuclear enrichment capacity and a stop to the nuclear threat posed by the world’s No. 1 state sponsor of terror,” Trump said. “Iran, the bully of the Middle East, must now make peace. If they do not, future attacks will be far greater — and a lot easier.”
Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, said the US’s move “outrageous and will have everlasting consequences.”“Iran reserves all options to defend its sovereignty, interest, and people,” he said.
Tehran’s nuclear regulatory agency said there was no sign of radiation contamination at the sites and that it had take precautions in anticipation of an attack.

On this special edition of Bloomberg Surveillance, hosts Tom Keene and Paul Sweeney speak with:

- Ethan Bronner, Israel Bureau Chief for Bloomberg News
- Joe Mathieu, co-host of Bloomberg Balance of Power
- Gautam Mukunda, professor at Yale School of Management and Bloomberg Opinion columnist
- Dan Williams, Bloomberg News Jerusalem reporter
- Jennifer Lawless, professor at University of Virginia

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Featuring some of our favorite conversations of the week from our daily radio show "Bloomberg Businessweek Daily."
Hosted by Carol Massar and Tim Stenovec

Hear the show live at 2PM ET on WBBR 1130 AM New York, Bloomberg 92.9 FM Boston, WDCH 99.1 FM in Washington D.C. Metro, Sirius/XM channel 121, on the Bloomberg Business App, Radio.com, the iHeartRadio app and at Bloomberg.com/audio.

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US President Donald Trump signaled he would give diplomacy a chance before deciding whether to strike Iran, dialing back on recent comments that suggested military action could be imminent.
“Based on the fact that there’s a substantial chance of negotiations that may or may not take place with Iran in the near future, I will make my decision whether or not to go within the next two weeks,” Trump said in a dictated message, according to White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt. Iran maintained Friday it won’t negotiate with the US while an Israeli assault continues. The only way to end the imposed war is to “unconditionally stop” the enemy’s aggression, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Friday in a post on X.

Oil prices fell following a report from Reuters that Iran is ready to discuss limitations on nuclear enrichment, but will not consider stopping entirely. That puts the country’s leadership at odds with Trump, who has called for zero enrichment.

Israel launched its surprise attack on Iran a week ago, saying the threat of its sworn enemy acquiring nuclear weapons had to be neutralized. While that goal hasn’t been fully met, the Islamic Republic’s military capabilities have been degraded and a number of its top generals and atomic scientists have been killed. Iran has struck back at Israel with waves of ballistic missiles and drones, and there have been heavy casualties on both sides.

Trump, who is scheduled to attend a national security meeting in the Oval Office on Friday, has publicly mused for days about the US joining the fray. His latest stance signals a step back after a run of tough rhetoric, including demands for Tehran residents to relocate and threats toward Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and his early departure from this week’s Group of Seven summit in Canada to return to Washington.
Today's show features:

• Dan Williams, Reporter for Bloomberg News Based in Jerusalem, on life in Israel given the Israel/Iran War
• Alex Vatanka, Senior Fellow at the Middle East Institute on life in Iran
• John Erath, Senior Policy Director for the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation on Iran's nuclear ambitions
• and Peter Atwater, President of Financial Insyghts on the overall US macro environment

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Watch Carol and Tim LIVE every day on YouTube: http://bit.ly/3vTiACF.

Federal Reserve officials left interest rates unchanged and continued to pencil in two rate cuts in 2025, saying uncertainty over the economic outlook was still high but had diminished. The Federal Open Market Committee voted unanimously on Wednesday to hold the benchmark federal funds rate in a range of 4.25%-4.5%, as they have at each of their meetings this year.
Officials also downgraded their estimates for economic growth this year while lifting their forecasts for unemployment and inflation.

Speaking to reporters following the decision, Chair Jerome Powell repeated his view that the central bank was “well positioned to wait to learn more about the likely course of the economy before considering any adjustments to our policy stance.”

While the median expectation for two rate cuts in 2025 didn’t change, a number of officials lowered their projections. Seven officials now foresee no rate cuts this year, compared with four in March. Two others pointed to one cut this year
Today's show features:

• Ross Mayfield, Investment Strategist at Baird Private Wealth Management & Ira Jersey Bloomberg Intelligence Chief US Interest Rates Strategist on FOMC Reaction
• Heather Williams, Director of Project on Nuclear Issues and Senior Fellow for Defense and Security at Center for Strategic and International Studies
• Michael Lohan, head of IDA Ireland on trade, tariffs and EU’s view of Trump.

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Bloomberg's Tom Keene and Lisa Abramowicz discuss remarks from Fed Chair Jay Powell following the Federal Reserve's latest policy decision on a special edition of Bloomberg Surveillance.

Federal Reserve officials left interest rates unchanged and continued to pencil in two rate cuts in 2025, saying uncertainty over the economic outlook was still high but had diminished.

The Federal Open Market Committee voted unanimously on Wednesday to hold the benchmark federal funds rate in a range of 4.25%-4.5%, as they have at each of their meetings this year.

Officials also downgraded their estimates for economic growth this year while lifting their forecasts for unemployment and inflation.

Speaking to reporters following the decision, Chair Jerome Powell repeated his view that the central bank was “well positioned to wait to learn more about the likely course of the economy before considering any adjustments to our policy stance.”

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