The major U.S. index futures are currently pointing to a roughly flat open on Friday, with stocks likely to show a lack of direction

Donald Trump has raised the pressure on Federal Reserve chair Jay Powell to cut borrowing costs, setting up a potential clash between the two men less than a week before the US central bank meets to set interest rates.

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In President Trump’s first week in office, he issued a blitz of executive orders, but perhaps his most ambitious statement to date is his claim yesterday that he would order the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates.

Asian markets rose Friday after a record day on Wall Street in response to Donald Trump's tax-cut pledge, while the yen strengthened after a widely expected interest rate hike by

Markets rose Friday after a record day on Wall Street in response to Donald Trump's tax-cut pledge, while the yen strengthened after a widely expected interest rate hike by the

Despite a quiet end to the week, equities are poised for strong bullish closes.

Arguing that Saudi Arabia and OPEC should take steps to lower oil prices, Trump added, “With oil prices going down, I'll demand that interest rates drop immediately.”Start the day smarter. Get all the news you need in your inbox each morning.

After a week of focus on U.S. politics following President Trump’s inauguration, focus switches back to monetary policy, with an interest-rate decision due by the Fed as well as the ECB.

The Federal Reserve is widely expected to hold its key interest rate steady on Wednesday as officials wait for more data that indicates inflation is cooling.

The Fed is unlikely to cut interest rates again when it meets next week, delaying any relief from high borrowing costs.