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  • Fed to hold rates again as officials await clarity on economy, tariffs

Jun 18, 2025

Fed to hold rates again as officials await clarity on economy, tariffs

Bay Area Times
Bay Area Times
Fed to hold rates again as officials await clarity on economy, tariffs

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Top stories today:

  1. Fed to hold rates again as officials await clarity on economy, tariffs
  2. GENIUS Act passed by Senate to set guardrails for stablecoins
  3. Google brings Gemini 2.5 Flash-Lite in preview as fastest 2.5 model
  4. TikTok gets 90-day reprieve as Trump delays sale-or-ban law
  5. Eli Lilly to acquire gene-editing startup Verve Therapeutics

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0. Data and calendar

All values as of 6 AM ET / 3 AM PT, other than S&P500 and NASDAQ close (4 PM ET / 1 PM PT).

All times are ET.

Listen to our AI-generated podcast summarizing today’s newsletter (beware of hallucinations):

1. Fed to hold rates again as officials await clarity on economy, tariffs

  • 4.25%-4.5% is the target interest rate range for the Federal Reserve officials.

  • 2 PM ET: the 4th straight meeting is likely to see Fed hold rates steady.

  • 2:30 PM ET: Fed Chair Powell speaks at the FOMC’s press conference, after the meeting ends.

Markets expect 100 bps in cuts over the next 15 months

CME FedWatch.

2. GENIUS Act passed by Senate to set federal guardrails for U.S. dollar-pegged stablecoins

X: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.

  • 68-30: the Senate voted for the bill.

  • Creates a regulated pathway to issue stablecoins for private companies.

  • Allows banks, fintechs, and major retailers to launch stablecoins or integrate them into existing payment systems.

    • Limits big tech from issuing stablecoins without partnering with or creating regulated financial entities.

  • Bars Congress members and their families from profiting off crypto ventures.

    • Doesn’t restrict the president to do so, though.

  • Yet to be passed by the Republican-held House.

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Backed by Mark Cuban. Public investing on StartEngine, starting at just $500.

Don’t miss your chance to invest, join Virtuix on StartEngine

*Sponsored by Virtuix. ($15,000 contracted). Prospective investors should review the offering materials for details, including all risk factors, before making an investment decision. This advertisement is not an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy securities. Any investment involves significant risks, including the possible loss of your entire investment. This Reg CF offering is made available through StartEngine Primary LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. The Company may, at its sole discretion, extend the offering beyond the stated Termination Date.

4. Google brings Gemini 2.5 Flash-Lite in preview

Google.

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