The reported frontrunner to take over as Federal Reserve chair in May has a recent track record of advocating for the central bank lowering interest rates.

For some investors, they bet on a vehicle known as "Federal Funds futures" to hedge. For others, it's just that — a bet.

The differences have been exacerbated by the government shutdown’s interruption of economic data, a particular challenge for a Fed that Chair Jerome Powell has often described as “data dependent.” The government’s last jobs report was for August, and inflation for September.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Tuesday the Federal Reserve's system of managing interest rates is struggling and needs to be simplified.

The Federal Reserve is anticipated to announce a cut in interest rates today, despite the lack of government data due to the ongoing shutdown. Most of the information the central bank receives to monitor inflation and the jobs market is not being released ...

The Federal Reserve targets an interest rate called the federal funds rate (FFR). The three rates the Fed sets to reach its FFR target range are: the discount rate, interest on reserve balances (IORB), and overnight reverse repurchase agreements (ON RRP).