TechFlow News, January 27: According to JINSHI Data, U.S. President Trump stated he has already identified his preferred candidate for the next Federal Reserve Chair and announced at the Davos Forum that he would reveal this choice “in the near future.” U.S. Treasury Secretary Bessent confirmed Trump indicated the announcement could come “as early as the week of January 26”—i.e., this week.
Wolfe Research noted one particular timing window stands out as especially plausible. Analyst Stephanie Roth stated the most likely 90-minute window for the official announcement falls during the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting scheduled for January. Wolfe Research argued this timing makes sense—“particularly if Trump aims to shift market attention away from the Fed’s failure to cut rates.” In her report, Roth wrote the announcement “could occur as soon as this week or within the coming weeks,” noting the vacancy on the Fed Board currently held by Michelle Bowman will be formally filled on January 31. Wolfe Research reasoned logically that Trump’s nominee “would fill this seat before the March FOMC meeting—especially given the risk that Powell may remain on the Fed Board even after his term as Chair ends.”
The firm also analyzed market reactions to several leading candidates, finding markets view BlackRock executive Rick Rieder and White House advisor Kevin Hassett as relatively dovish nominees, whereas Fed Governor Christopher Waller and former Fed Governor Kevin Warsh are seen as more hawkish.
