Market Talks covering the impact of U.S. Politics and White House policies on companies and markets. Published exclusively on Dow Jones Newswires throughout the day.
1551 ET - Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina is the leader of the Republican opposition to the DoJ investigation of Fed Chair Jerome Powell. After a judge struck down subpoenas issued to the Fed, Tillis doubled down on his opposition to the investigation. "This ruling confirms just how weak and frivolous the criminal investigation of Chairman Powell is and it is nothing more than a failed attack on Fed independence," Tillis said on social media. "Appealing the ruling will only delay the confirmation of Kevin Warsh as the next Fed Chair." (matt.grossman@wsj.com; @mattgrossman)
1527 ET - The latest development in the Powell criminal investigation comes out a challenging moment for the relationship between the Fed and the White House. President Trump is trying to place Kevin Warsh, his nominee to succeed Powell, on the Fed's board. But some Republican senators have said they won't advance Warsh's nomination until the Powell investigation is resolved. The next step may hinge on how the White House responds -- whether they press on with the legal fight and challenge the judge's decision, or let the case drop. (matt.grossman@wsj.com; @mattgrossman)
1211 ET - Canadian PM Mark Carney tries to play down a dismal February jobs report that showed one of the deepest month-over-month job losses on record and a rise in the unemployment rate. He tells reporters in Norway that in the past six months employment in Canada rose by a net of 80,000 jobs versus a net 6,000 job gain in the U.S. Carney says wages in Canada are rising, up 3.9% in February from a year ago. While the unemployment rate rose to 6.7%, Carney says it remains below a peak reached last year of 7.1%. Carney, a former central banker, acknowledges that U.S. trade policy "is causing big adjustments in the Canadian economy," in particular manufacturing, in which some components remain subject to hefty tariffs of 50%. (Paul.Vieira@wsj.com, @paulvieira)
0336 ET - Oil prices hold on to gains, with Brent crude above $100 a barrel despite U.S. efforts to boost global supplies by temporarily allowing countries to purchase Russian oil already at sea. "Quick measures are unlikely to relieve the pressure," says Ipek Ozkardeskaya from Swissquote. The oil market's main concern remains the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called for an international coalition to escort tankers through the strait "as soon as it is militarily possible," though Iran's new leader has vowed to keep blocking the waterway. In early trading, Brent rises 1% to $101.51 a barrel, while WTI is up 1.1% to $91.50. The benchmarks are on track for weekly gains of around 9% and 11%, respectively. (giulia.petroni@wsj.com)
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
March 13, 2026 15:52 ET (19:52 GMT)
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