Bessent

• Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent hosted G20 finance ministers in North Carolina on Tuesday to address global investor anxiety regarding inflation and rising debt levels. • In a separate development, the U.S. military conducted its second strike against Iran within a three-day window. • General Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, issued a letter explicitly ruling out the use of troops to seize ballots or voting machines during the November 2026 midterm elections.

• US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated during a finance leaders' gathering in Asheville that current bond yields reflect "flat to down" inflation expectations. • Bessent highlighted that these same indicators signal a robust acceleration in the growth of the United States economy. • This assessment is significant as it suggests a positive economic outlook where growth increases without triggering a spike in inflation.

• Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is facing a significant credibility test as he attempts to reshape the U.S. economy and influence market behavior. • The challenge comes as Bessent confronts the practical limits of his authority to bend financial markets to his will ahead of the upcoming midterm elections. • This struggle is particularly notable given Bessent's previous criticisms of Democrats for allegedly constructing a "centrally planned economy."

Stanley Druckenmiller said he was ‘proud of using it’ as wider media grapples with parameters around AI useStanley Druckenmiller, a billionaire investor, said he used artificial intelligence to pen his viral Wall Street Journal op-ed in which he sharply criticized the interference of Scott Bessent, the US treasury secretary, in the US bond market.Many news outlets, including the Guardian, covered the editorial, highlighting Druckenmiller’s rebuke of his former mentee, Bessent. As the story circulated online, some readers questioned rhetorical choices that resembled AI-generated text. Continue reading...

• Billionaire Stanley Druckenmiller warned that Scott Bessent, a Trump ally and potential Treasury Secretary, will likely fail if he attempts to suppress bond yields. • Druckenmiller argues that Bessent should prioritize cutting the US budget deficit rather than fighting market forces to lower borrowing costs. • Adam Posen of the Peterson Institute highlighted the irony of Bessent's approach, noting his past association with figures who famously broke the Bank of England in 1992.

• Economists Jeremy Siegel and Ed Yardeni are warning against Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's strategy to expand government bond buybacks. • Professor Siegel has labeled this specific approach to yield curve manipulation as the “Bessent twist.” • Critics argue that this intervention could interfere with the Federal Reserve's ability to manage monetary policy and make upcoming interest rate decisions.

• Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is facing mounting criticism over his proposed plans to intervene in bond markets, including pushback from a former mentor. • During a Washington news conference on Monday, Bessent announced "Operation Economic Fury," threatening Tehran and its allies with severe new sanctions. • The administration provided few specific details regarding the operation, highlighting a tension between Bessent's market strategies and his geopolitical goals.

Trump ally should cut budget deficit rather than try to suppress bond yields, says billionaire Stanley DruckenmillerScott Bessent’s attempt to calm the bond markets and push down America’s cost of borrowing have attracted a rebuke from the US Treasury secretary’s former mentor.Billionaire investor Stanley Druckenmiller, who worked with Bessent at George Soros’s fund management firm in the 1990s, has warned that his former pupil is courting danger by trying to suppress US bond yields. Continue reading...

• Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced that the Trump administration is preparing new secondary sanctions targeting Iran. • The proposed measures are designed to block all potential sources of revenue for the Iranian government. • These sanctions threaten to penalize any international entity or individual continuing to do business with Iran.

• Stock market futures remained flat as Treasury yields rebounded, with the 30-year yield climbing back above 5.2%. • Treasury Secretary Bessent has doubled the government's buyback program, specifically targeting longer-dated securities to stabilize the market. • This move is significant as the administration attempts to manage debt costs and mitigate volatility in the bond market.

• Bitcoin and gold have experienced a significant price surge, with Bitcoin recording its strongest weekly performance in over three years. • The rally is driven by investors engaging in "debasement trades" following signals of bond market intervention from Scott Bessent. • This market shift has put downward pressure on the U.S. dollar, prompting a flight toward alternative stores of value.

• California Attorney General Rob Bonta stated in a CNBC interview on Thursday that any settlement regarding the Paramount merger would require "robust structural remedies." • Bonta is leading a coalition of 12 states challenging the merger on antitrust grounds to prevent unfair market consolidation. • The Attorney General criticized Paramount, claiming the company is focusing on discussions that are not central to the core antitrust lawsuit.

• Potential Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is seeking to lower long-term Treasury yields, a move that may encroach on the Federal Reserve's traditional monetary policy domain. • This creates a policy tension for Kevin Warsh, who must determine the appropriate boundaries of coordination between the Treasury and the Fed regarding bond markets and the balance sheet. • Historically, the Fed only intervenes in bond yields during severe economic crises, and current conditions do not yet meet that emergency threshold.

• Treasury Secretary Bessent announced a potential buyback operation exceeding $4 billion to "make a market" in longer-dated securities. • The move targets securities like the 30-year bond, which has seen yields surge to levels not witnessed since before the 2008 global financial crisis. • This intervention aims to stabilize the market and ensure fundamentals drive pricing, despite the benchmark 10-year yield recently climbing to 4.704%.

• Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced plans to expand the government's efforts to buy back costlier debt to manage federal liabilities. • The administration is preparing to unveil a new fiscal initiative specifically designed to address the highest borrowing costs seen in several years. • This strategy aims to reduce the overall cost of servicing U.S. debt by replacing expensive older bonds with more favorable terms.

• Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is planning a bold intervention involving bond buying to prevent a potentially damaging increase in US borrowing costs. • Shoki Omori, chief fixed income strategist for Japan at Deutsche Bank AG, warns that providing greater liquidity support for Treasuries typically occurs at the expense of the currency. • This strategy matters because while it may stabilize the bond market, it risks weakening the US dollar's global standing and value.

• Market analysts suggest Scott Bessent’s interventions were ineffective, while Japan's inflation approaching the 2% target provides a positive signal for the Bank of Japan to hike rates. • In the Philippines, digital payment adoption is surging, with Nikkei reporting the nation is "racing towards a cashless future" as digital payments are projected to hit 64.7% by 2025. • Indonesia is preparing to release Q2 Current Account data, with forecasts predicting a deficit of $-1.8B, an improvement over the $-4B recorded in Q1.

• Treasury official Bessent reaffirmed a plan to implement Treasury buybacks during the North American market session on August 20, 2026. • The initiative aims to signal to markets that current elevated long-term yields are not reflective of actual economic fundamentals. • Bessent highlighted a growing administration focus on fiscal consolidation and noted that the Treasury would coordinate with the Federal Reserve for any necessary balance sheet adjustments.

• Stock futures declined as Treasury yields surged, effectively erasing the market gains previously triggered by comments from Scott Bessent. • The market volatility was primarily driven by a spike in oil prices, which fueled inflation concerns and pushed bond yields higher. • This shift suggests that short-term interventions may be insufficient to alter a structural upward trajectory in bond yields.

• US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has initiated a new round of debt buybacks to combat rising long-term borrowing costs. • The move comes as Treasury yields hit multi-year highs, prompting the administration to intervene to stabilize the market. • This strategy aims to lower yields and weaken the dollar, reducing the overall cost of servicing US government debt.

Treasury secretary’s notepad, photographed by Reuters on Friday morning, prompts questions over US plansDuring a cabinet meeting at Camp David on Friday, the US treasury secretary Scott Bessent carelessly revealed plans for the US to buy $5bn-$10bn ⁠in Japanese yen in a scribbled “to do” list left visible to a Reuters photographer.The image, taken over Bessent’s shoulder during a portion of the meeting open to journalists, showed a Camp David notepad with the underscored words “To Do” followed by “Buy Japanese Yen (JPY) $5-10 bil”. Continue reading...

• US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has warned Moonshot AI, the creator of the Kimi K3 model, and other Chinese AI firms of potential "Entity List" designations. • The warning follows accusations that these companies "stole" technology by using outputs from American frontier models, specifically citing Anthropic's Fable model. • US officials claim to have identified direct evidence of American AI models appearing within Chinese systems, raising concerns over intellectual property theft.

UK chancellor said to have told US treasury secretary she did not like his tone during meeting in Washington in AprilUK politics live – latest updatesMiddle East crisis – live updatesRachel Reeves had an angry exchange with her US counterpart, Scott Bessent, in Washington last month over the war in Iran, sources have said, in the latest sign of the deepening tensions between the two countries.The chancellor and the US treasury secretary argued in person during the spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund, according to people briefed on the exchange, confirming a story first reported by the Financial Times. Continue reading...

• Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent described President Trump's economic measures as suffocating Iran's regime during a May 3 Fox News appearance. • Iran's economy faces $435 million daily losses and 112% food inflation due to the U.S. blockade, per FOX Business analysis. • Rising U.S. gas prices from the Iran conflict are creating broader economic challenges despite the pressure on Tehran.

• U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced that 2026 tax filing season refunds are up more than 10% nationwide compared to last year, with working Americans poised for immediate take-home pay increases via withholding changes. • The gains stem from broader economic policies under President Trump, including Trump Accounts to expand benefits from the vibrant economy to more citizens. • This reflects efforts to return money to American workers, families, and businesses, ushering in a new era of growth amid strong IRS performance.

US treasury secretary says actions will increase oil supply and bring down prices, but long-term effects in questionThe US may soon remove sanctions on Iranian oil stranded on tankers at sea, the treasury secretary, Scott Bessent, said on Thursday as Washington seeks to curb prices soaring over Iran’s closure of the strait of Hormuz.“In the coming days, we may un-sanction the Iranian oil that’s on the water. It’s about 140m barrels,” Bessent said during an appearance on Fox Business Network’s Mornings with Maria. Continue reading...

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is set to meet Chinese officials next week for a new round of trade negotiations, as US markets grapple with oil disruptions from Middle East conflicts. The talks aim to address tariffs and supply chain issues exacerbated by the Strait of Hormuz blockage. President Trump's energy team monitors surging prices, with industry leaders consulted on naval escort options. Economists predict outcomes could influence global commodity stability and US inflation rates.