Investment Education

According to Odaily, Forvis Mazars Chief Economist George Lagarias expressed his views on the upcoming Federal Reserve meeting during an interview with CNBC on Thursday. Lagarias firmly supports a 25 basis points rate cut, emphasizing that a larger cut of 50 basis points is unnecessary and could send the wrong signals to the market and the economy. He stated, 'I don't see the urgency for a 50 basis points cut. Such a move might convey the wrong message to the market and the economy. As we know, a recession can become a self-fulfilling prophecy, so making such a decision without a compelling reason would be very dangerous. Unless something happens to unsettle the market, there is no need to cause panic.'

According to BlockBeats, for the week ending August 31, the United States reported 227,000 initial jobless claims, slightly below the expected 230,000. The previous week's figure was revised from 231,000 to 232,000.For the week ending August 24, continuing jobless claims were reported at 1.838 million, also below the anticipated 1.865 million. The prior week's number was adjusted from 1.868 million to 1.86 million.

According to BlockBeats, on September 5, the release of the ADP employment data had significant effects on various financial markets. Following the announcement, the U.S. Dollar Index (DXY) experienced a brief decline of 10 points, currently standing at 101.03. Concurrently, the USD/JPY exchange rate saw a sharp drop of nearly 50 points, now reported at 143.13.In the bond market, the yield on the U.S. 10-year Treasury note fell to 3.747% after the employment data was made public. Similarly, the yield on the U.S. 2-year Treasury note decreased to 3.733%, marking its lowest level since May 2023. Additionally, spot gold prices saw a short-term increase of $4, now trading at $2516.78 per ounce.

According to Odaily, the latest market data reveals that the ADP employment numbers in the United States for August increased by 99,000, falling short of the expected 145,000. The previous month's figure was revised down from 122,000 to 111,000. This marks the smallest increase in ADP employment since January 2021.

According to Odaily, Howard Marks of Oaktree Capital has forecasted that following the Federal Reserve's rate cuts, U.S. interest rates will stabilize between 3% and 4%. Marks, who is the co-chairman and co-founder of Oaktree Capital, made this statement during a conference in Melbourne on Thursday. He indicated that the Federal Reserve would lower the rates from the current emergency levels of 5.25% to 5.5% down to around 3%. Marks emphasized his belief that the rates would remain at approximately 3%, and would not revert to zero, 0.5%, or 1%.

According to BlockBeats, on September 5, the Federal Reserve issued a cease and desist order to United Texas Bank, a crypto-friendly institution. The order was prompted by significant deficiencies in the bank's compliance with anti-money laundering (AML) laws related to transactions with cryptocurrency clients, as well as other alleged illegal activities.

According to BlockBeats, on September 5, Ripple's legal team revealed in a document submitted to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York on September 4 that the SEC has agreed to delay the payment of penalties until after September 6. The legal team suggested that Ripple deposit 111% of the judgment amount, approximately $139 million, into a bank account until 30 days after the appeal period expires or any appeals are resolved.Analysts believe that this delay in penalty payment may pave the way for a potential appeal by the SEC.Previously, on August 7, a federal judge ordered Ripple Labs Inc. to pay a civil penalty of $125 million for selling its XRP tokens to institutional investors without registering with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

According to Odaily, the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has accused Uniswap Labs of conducting illegal digital asset derivatives trading. The regulatory body has demanded that Uniswap Labs pay a civil penalty of $175,000 and cease activities that violate the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA).

According to Odaily, market reports indicate that the United States recorded a trade deficit of $78.8 billion in July. This figure slightly exceeded the expected deficit of $79.0 billion. The previous value was revised from $73.1 billion to $73.0 billion.The July trade deficit marks the largest since June 2022, highlighting ongoing economic challenges. The data reflects the balance between the country's imports and exports, with a higher deficit indicating that the value of imports continues to surpass that of exports. This trend can have significant implications for the overall economic health and policy decisions.The trade deficit is a critical economic indicator, often influencing currency values, trade policies, and international relations. Analysts and policymakers closely monitor these figures to assess economic performance and make informed decisions. The latest data underscores the importance of addressing trade imbalances to foster a more stable economic environment.

According to BlockBeats, Ripple Labs CEO Brad Garlinghouse has made a bold prediction that regardless of the outcome of the 2024 U.S. presidential election, SEC Chairman Gary Gensler will step down. Garlinghouse expressed his willingness to make a 'gentleman's bet' that Gensler's term will not continue, no matter who takes office in the White House.Since 2020, Ripple has been embroiled in a legal battle with the SEC. In the context of the upcoming November election, Garlinghouse discussed U.S. cryptocurrency policy, emphasizing that technology should bridge political divides. He anticipates that as the election progresses, technology will foster bipartisan cooperation. He noted that while Republicans have taken a more proactive stance on cryptocurrency, several key Democrats also view these technologies as crucial for maintaining America's leadership in the tech sector.