Trump Blasts Fed, Says Interest Rates Are Too High

President Donald Trump Federal Reserve on Tuesday described the Federal Reserve as a “problem” and said its interest rate target was too high.

“I’d like to see the Fed with a lower interest rate. I think the rate’s too high. I think we have much more of a Fed problem than we have a problem with anyone else,” said Trump to reporters outside the White House. “I think your tech stocks have some problems.”

Stocks have fallen sharply this week and data has suggested a slowdown in the housing market. The slump has been particularly sharp for single family homes, arguably the most interest rate sensitive part of the market.

The Fed raised rates three times this year and is expected to hike again in December. The Fed’s projections from September show the central bankers expect to raise rates three more times next year, although market prices for futures linked to the federal funds rate now predict just one hike next year.

Investors in stocks and bonds are worried that the Fed could make a “policy mistake,” raising rates too high and too rapidly. That could push down U.S. growth or trigger a recession. Goldman Sachs on Tuesday predicted U.S. economic growth would slow to a crawl in 2019.

https://www.breitbart.com/economy/2018/11/20/trumpvsfed/

>>3977832

YUGE!

6 Charts That Show The Collapse Of Traditional TV, With Streaming Close Behind

Traditional television is dying at an accelerating pace and the "solution" - streaming "skinny" bundles - isn't looking that much better.

The Wall Street Journal reports that more than 1 million consumers canceled their cable TV or satellite subscriptions over the last quarter, marking one of the largest seasonal drops ever. This ratchets up the pressure on traditional pay-TV providers to find new ways to generate revenue and it continues to shine a focus on streaming services and "skinny" content bundles being offered by traditional cable companies.

>>3977929

(cont)

6 Charts That Show The Collapse Of Traditional TV, With Streaming Close Behind

We recently highlighted that it wasn't just cable that is "cratering": streaming TV growth has also slowed and recent trends have been ominous. Dish's Sling TV signed up just 26,000 new subscribers in the third quarter after attracting 41,000 in the previous three months and 91,000 prior to that. In aggregate, the company lost 341,000 customers in the third quarter. DirecTV Now added 49,000 subscribers last quarter after signing up 342,000 customers in the prior three months.

YouTube TV added about 100,000 customers over the past two quarters, after signing up 125,000 in the first quarter of this year. Hulu attracted 175,000 new viewers last quarter after signing up 200,000 in the two quarters prior to that, according to estimates.

In short: growth has hit a wall, even for these consumer-friendly services.

https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-11-19/6-charts-show-collapse-traditional-tv-streaming-close-behind