Trump to launch final round of Fed chair candidate interviews this week

[Trump to Launch Final Round of Fed Chair Interviews This Week] U.S. President Trump will launch the final round of interviews for Federal Reserve Chair candidates this week, with White House National Economic Council Director Hassett competing against three other candidates. According to three senior government officials, Trump and Treasury Secretary Besant are scheduled to interview former Fed governor Kevin Warsh on Wednesday. Officials said that although some Wall Street investors are concerned that Hassett’s close relationship with the president could lead to overly aggressive rate cuts, Hassett still remains the frontrunner to succeed Powell in May next year. However, the decision to proceed with additional interviews indicates that Hassett is not a lock for the job. Officials also raised the possibility of a shortened term for Hassett. According to officials, Besant has submitted a shortlist of four names to the White House, including Hassett and Warsh. The other two candidates will be selected from the “other finalists list,” which includes Fed Governor Waller, Fed Governor Bowman, and BlackRock’s Rick Rieder. (Financial Times)