All posts tagged: Invesco QQQ Trust

Warner, Schiff probe potential insider trading in government

Warner, Schiff probe potential insider trading in government

Published by Sam Flores

Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) and Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.). Nathan Posner | Anadolu | Tom Williams | CQ-Roll Call, Inc | Getty Images Sens. Mark Warner, D-Va., and Adam Schiff, D-Calif., demanded answers on potential insider trading in government in a letter sent Thursday to the head of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Department of Defense inspector general. The senators cited public reporting of “large positions in equities and equity-linked derivatives” being built up before major policy announcements, such as decisions related to the Iran war and President Donald Trump’s tariffs agenda. And they suggested those instances indicate “federal officials are disclosing material nonpublic information for financial gain.” “Recent reports of equity trading that occurred shortly before significant government policy announcements suggest that federal officials are disclosing material nonpublic information for financial gain,” the lawmakers wrote in the letter to SEC Chair Paul Atkins and Pentagon IG Platte Moring. “These actions undermine public interest and market integrity, and demand oversight by each of your respective authorities, as well as by Congress.” The letter …

Trump signals DOJ should pursue Powell probe, complicating Warsh Fed nomination

Trump signals DOJ should pursue Powell probe, complicating Warsh Fed nomination

Published by Sam Flores

President Donald Trump on Thursday signaled his continued support for a Department of Justice investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell — a stance that could further delay the confirmation of Powell’s would-be successor, Kevin Warsh. “He’s under investigation because he’s building a building for hundreds of billions of dollars more than it’s supposed to cost,” Trump said of Powell in the Oval Office. He was referring to the ongoing renovation of the Fed’s headquarters and another building in Washington, the purported focus of the federal criminal probe of the central bank chairman led by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro. Trump repeatedly claimed that the construction projects cost up to $4 billion, though the actual total is roughly $2.5 billion. Powell has accused the government of launching the investigation in retaliation for his refusal to lower interest rates as much or as quickly as Trump has demanded. Powell “should be lowering rates immediately,” Trump said unprompted in his Oval Office remarks, “but he won’t do that because he’s a stubborn, incompetent person, and that’s a bad …

Fed Chair Powell complicating Warsh’s plans for swift rate cuts

Fed Chair Powell complicating Warsh’s plans for swift rate cuts

Published by Sam Flores

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell speaks during a press conference following the Federal Open Market Committee meeting at the Federal Reserve Board Building in Washington, March 18, 2026. Brendan Smialowski | AFP | Getty Images Federal Reserve chair nominee Kevin Warsh wants to lower interest rates. Fed officials signaled Wednesday that it may be even harder than expected for him to make that happen, should he be confirmed into that job any time soon. Fed officials raised their predictions for the path of inflation and interest rates in data the central bank released Wednesday. That was largely expected given the spike in oil prices due to the Iran war. But Chair Jerome Powell said oil wasn’t the only factor his colleagues were considering. Higher forecasts for inflation are also “a reflection of the slow progress we’ve seen on tariffs,” Powell said. The Fed publishes a survey of its top officials’ expectations for interest rates and the economy in a document known as the Summary of Economic Projections. The SEP released Wednesday showed the median official’s …

Fed subpoenas blocked by judge; DOJ to appeal

Fed subpoenas blocked by judge; DOJ to appeal

Published by Sam Flores

A federal judge in a scathing ruling blocked subpoenas issued by a grand jury to the Federal Reserve as part of a criminal investigation of Chair Jerome Powell. U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro immediately said that the Department of Justice would appeal what she called the “outrageous” ruling, after it was unsealed Friday. Friday’s action will likely keep Powell in the chairman’s seat longer because Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., has vowed to block Kevin Warsh’s confirmation to succeed Powell until the federal investigation ends. That may mean interest rates remain higher than President Donald Trump wants for longer because Powell has refused to bend to the president’s demands to lower them further. U.S. District Judge James Boasberg, in his ruling, said evidence showed Pirro was motivated to investigate Powell because of a desire to get the Fed chief to bow to Trump and cut interest rates quickly and broadly. Pirro’s investigation purportedly is focused on the Fed’s multibillion-dollar renovation of its headquarters in Washington and on Powell’s testimony to the Senate …

Trump says Iran war will end ‘very soon’

Trump says Iran war will end ‘very soon’

Published by Sam Flores

President Donald Trump at a press conference on Monday said the war against Iran will end “very soon,” and also said that oil prices will drop. Trump’s rosy prediction came after a weekend that saw the price of oil skyrocket to above $100 per barrel, roiling global financial markets. “We’re achieving major strides toward completing our military objective,” Trump said nine days after launching the war on Iran with Israel on Feb. 28. Trump, who with his deputies has offered shifting explanations of what the war’s objective is, did not on Monday detail his end game, instead touting military successes. “We’ve wiped every single force in Iran out, very completely,” the president said at his Trump National Doral club near Miami, where he touted the destruction of more than 50 Iranian naval ships, and decimation of its air force and anti-aircraft defenses. “They have no leadership. It’s all been blown up.” Asked if the war would end this week, Trump said, “No,” but added, “Very soon.” He proceeded to threaten further military action if he …

Trump bought NFLX, WBD bonds during bidding war with Paramount

Trump bought NFLX, WBD bonds during bidding war with Paramount

Published by Sam Flores

U.S. President Donald Trump arrives in Miami, Florida, U.S., March 7, 2026. Kevin Lamarque | Reuters President Donald Trump bought more than $1.1 million of Netflix bonds over the last three months as the streaming giant unsuccessfully fought Paramount Skydance to ​buy Warner Bros Discover, according to government disclosures. Trump bought more than $500,000 of Netflix’s bonds in two transactions on December ‌12 and December 16 and another more than $600,000 across two more trades on January 2 and 20, the disclosures show. The White House disclosed a range, rather than exact amounts, of between just over $1.1 million and $2.25 million. The purchases came as the Republican president and his regulatory officials talked Netflix down in the press, calling into ​question whether the deal would withstand antitrust scrutiny and pressuring Netflix to fire board member Susan Rice, a onetime aide to ​Democratic former President Barack Obama. It’s unclear whether he made or lost money on Netflix’s bonds, which paid an interest ⁠rate of 5.375% and are due in November 2029, since the filing doesn’t disclose if or when he sold …

Netflix CEO Sarandos visited White House before WBD offer pulled

Netflix CEO Sarandos visited White House before WBD offer pulled

Published by Sam Flores

Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos arrives for meetings at the White House in Washington, Feb. 26, 2026. Andrew Harnik | Getty Images Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos visited the White House Thursday afternoon for a meeting on his company’s effort to buy part of Warner Bros. Discovery — shortly before Netflix announced it would terminate the deal. Sarandos had not been expected to meet with President Donald Trump, who days ago demanded that Netflix boot former Obama administration official Susan Rice from its board of directors “or pay the consequences.” Trump’s threat had cited a call by right-wing influencer Laura Loomer to “kill the Netflix-Warner Bros. merger now.” Loomer had pointed to Rice’s comments predicting that institutions that appease Trump will be held “accountable” when Democrats regain power. “This meeting is not with POTUS,” a White House official told CNBC. “Netflix is meeting with staff members at the White House,” the official said. After Sarandos arrived at the White House, WBD issued a statement saying that Paramount Skydance‘s new bid to buy all of the company appeared …

Warren calls Trump’s bluff on affordability after State of the Union

Warren calls Trump’s bluff on affordability after State of the Union

Published by Sam Flores

Ranking member Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., questions Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent during the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee hearing titled “The Financial Stability Oversight Council’s Annual Report to Congress,” in Dirksen building on Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026. Tom Williams | CQ-Roll Call, Inc. | Getty Images Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren is calling President Donald Trump’s bluff after he claimed to be “ending” the affordability crisis during his State of the Union address, opening a new front in the battle that could determine November’s midterm elections. “Your claims are directly at odds with the day-to-day experiences of American households, who are struggling with rising costs of essentials, including food, housing, health care, child care, and electricity,” Warren, D-Mass., wrote in a letter to Trump, which was shared exclusively with CNBC after being sent late Wednesday.  “Despite your claims, you have not ‘solved’ affordability or ‘defeated’ inflation. Instead, over the past year, prices have skyrocketed for American households,” Warren, the top Democrat on the Senate Banking Committee, wrote. Warren’s letter is the launching point for …

Trump to announce plans for new tax cuts

Trump to announce plans for new tax cuts

Published by Sam Flores

President Donald Trump speaks during an event to honor “Angel Families” who have lost family members to crimes committed by people in the country illegally, at the White House in Washington, Feb. 23, 2026. Evelyn Hockstein | Reuters President Donald Trump is set to call for a new tax cut proposal during his State of the Union speech on Tuesday night, he said during a pre-address meeting with news anchors at the White House. Follow CNBC’s live blog covering the State of the Union address CNBC’s Joe Kernen attended the gathering and reported on CNBC’s “Power Lunch” that the president laid out his plans to advocate for new personal and corporate tax cuts, which Trump wants to be advanced using a second party-line budget reconciliation effort in Congress. Reconciliation is a parliamentary process that allows a party in control of the House, Senate and White House to skirt the Senate filibuster’s 60-vote threshold and advance certain legislation along party lines. Congressional Republicans passed tax cuts and a swath of other domestic policies through reconciliation last …

Trump demands Netflix fire Susan Rice as DOJ probes Warner deal

Trump demands Netflix fire Susan Rice as DOJ probes Warner deal

Published by Sam Flores

A drone view shows the Netflix logo on one of the company’s buildings in the Hollywood neighborhood in Los Angeles, California, U.S., Jan. 20, 2026. Daniel Cole | Reuters President Donald Trump late Saturday called on Netflix to fire board member Susan Rice or “pay the consequences,” after she said Democrats would push for corporate accountability if they regain power in the November midterm elections. In a Truth Social post on Saturday, Trump described Rice, who served as President Joe Biden’s domestic policy chief and held top foreign policy posts under President Barack Obama, as “purely a political hack” with “no talent or skills.” “HER POWER IS GONE, AND WILL NEVER BE BACK,” Trump wrote. Rice argued during a podcast last week that “it is not going to end well” for corporations, news organizations, and law firms that “bent the knee” to Trump, and that their deference is unpopular. “There is likely to be a swing in the other direction, and they are going to be caught with more than their pants down,” Rice told …