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A major concern: The future independence of the Federal Reserve.

US stocks ended the day sharply lower Monday and the dollar tumbled as investors assessed continued tariff uncertainty and the implications of President Donald Trump’s ongoing mission to try and oust Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell.

Donald Trump has thrown markets into fresh turmoil as finance ministers including Rachel Reeves prepare to fly to Washington for crisis talks.

Global financial markets have been turned upside down this year by President Donald Trump's burgeoning trade war. Markets are not in full panic, but the double-digit declines in major U.S. stock indexes are testing nerves. U.S. markets had been on a two-year tear coming into 2025, though many believed that stock prices had become overinflated.

Gold prices have reached record highs due to investor fear, inflation hedging, and shifts in U.S. monetary policy expectations.

When politics interferes with the central bank’s ability to set monetary policy, inflation tends to be the result.

Amazon shares slid Monday, falling amid a downgrade by Raymond James and a broad pullback in stocks.

Trump repeated his criticism of Powell, saying in a Truth Social post that the economy could slow down unless interest rates are lowered immediately. Trump's continued criticism of the Fed chair has heightened worries about the central bank's ability to independently formulate monetary policy in the world's largest economy, undermining investor confidence in U.S. assets already diminished by Trump's tariffs.

A number of stocks fell in the afternoon session after President Trump criticized the Federal Reserve's approach to interest rate cuts, warning that the pace was slow and could hinder economic growth. Trump's comments added pressure to an already sensitive market, raising concerns about political interference in monetary policy.

A number of stocks fell in the afternoon session after President Trump criticized the Federal Reserve's approach to interest rate cuts, warning that the pace was slow and could hinder economic growth. Trump's comments added pressure to an already sensitive market, raising concerns about political interference in monetary policy.