Saturday, November 22, 2025 at 12:37 PM

Headlines & Markets: Trump, Tariffs, and Turmoil

Major U.S. News Headlines

Chicago Violence & Federal Arrests: Multiple police officers were attacked in Chicago while responding to a shooting that left five wounded. President Trump called for peace amid rising urban violence.
- Impact: Bearish for local retail and consumer sentiment; could pressure municipal bonds.
- Label: Bearish
Trump Hosts NYC Mayor Mamdani: President Trump welcomed incoming New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a political opponent, at the White House. The meeting signals a rare bipartisan gesture amid ongoing clashes over immigration and economic policy.
- Impact: Neutral to slightly bullish for municipal bonds and NYC real estate.
- Label: Neutral
Food Tariff Easing: The White House continues to ease food tariffs to reduce grocery costs, with a focus on agricultural imports.
- Impact: Bullish for consumer staples and food stocks; bearish for domestic ag producers.
- Label: Bullish (for consumers), Bearish (for ag producers)
Fed Rate Cut Warnings: Cleveland Fed’s Hammack warned that rate cuts could fuel inflation and heighten market risks.
- Impact: Bearish for equities, bullish for bonds.
- Label: Bearish (equities), Bullish (bonds)
House Fails to Censure Plasket: The House failed to pass a motion to censure Democrat Stacy Plasket over controversial texts with Jeffrey Epstein.
- Impact: Neutral; political noise, no direct market impact.
- Label: Neutral

US Peace Plan for Ukraine: European leaders are meeting in South Africa to discuss alternatives to a US peace plan for Ukraine, which is seen as favoring Moscow. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy warns of a stark choice between sovereignty and US support.
- Impact: Bearish for European equities and risk assets; bullish for safe-haven currencies.
- Label: Bearish
Ukraine Drone Strikes on Russia: Ukrainian drones hit a Russian fuel refinery, killing two and injuring two. Russian air defenses shot down 69 drones overnight.
- Impact: Bearish for energy stocks, bullish for oil prices.
- Label: Bearish (energy stocks), Bullish (oil)
G20 & Geopolitical Tensions: The B20 South Africa Final Communique highlights intensified geopolitical tensions disrupting global trade.
- Impact: Bearish for global equities, bullish for safe-haven assets.
- Label: Bearish

U.S. Futures: Flat after yesterday’s selloff; markets are watching Fed speakers and consumer sentiment.
- Impact: Neutral; cautious sentiment ahead of Fed commentary.
- Label: Neutral
Europe: European equities weaker amid concerns over the US peace plan for Ukraine and ongoing geopolitical tensions.
- Impact: Bearish for European stocks.
- Label: Bearish
Asia: Asian markets mixed; Singapore’s economy outperformed expectations, led by trade-related sectors.
- Impact: Bullish for Singapore and export-oriented Asian equities.
- Label: Bullish (Singapore), Neutral (Asia)

Oil: Prices rose on news of Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian oil infrastructure.
- Impact: Bullish for oil stocks and energy sector.
- Label: Bullish
Gold: Safe-haven demand increased amid geopolitical tensions and Fed rate cut warnings.
- Impact: Bullish for gold.
- Label: Bullish
USD: Dollar strengthened on safe-haven flows and Fed hawkishness.
- Impact: Bullish for USD, bearish for emerging market currencies.
- Label: Bullish (USD), Bearish (EM currencies)
Yields: U.S. Treasury yields rose on Fed rate cut warnings.
- Impact: Bearish for bonds, bullish for banks.
- Label: Bearish (bonds), Bullish (banks)

Geopolitical Tensions: The US peace plan for Ukraine and ongoing drone strikes are bearish for global equities, especially in Europe, and bullish for safe-haven assets like gold and the USD.
Fed Policy: Fed warnings on rate cuts are bearish for equities and bullish for bonds, increasing market volatility.
Tariff Easing: Easing food tariffs are bullish