New York City – The Federal Reserve Board has imposed a hefty fine of $60.6 million on Citigroup for failing to address issues related to data quality management, as stated in a recent press release. Despite a 2020 enforcement action, the bank has made insufficient progress and neglected to implement necessary controls to manage its ongoing risk. The Federal Reserve Board continues to closely monitor Citigroup’s efforts to comply with the 2020 action which remains in effect. Combined with fines from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Citigroup now faces a total penalty of approximately $135.6 million.
In another development, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) report due to be released on Thursday is expected to show a decrease in inflation, moving closer to the 3% mark. Economists anticipate a 0.1% month-over-month increase and a 3.1% year-over-year rise. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell indicated that the Fed may not wait for inflation to reach 2% before considering rate cuts, especially in light of signs pointing to a cooling labor market. The focus seems to be shifting towards a trend-based approach, increasing the likelihood of a rate cut, as observed by investment expert Matt Brenner from MissionSquare Retirement.
The S&P 500 index has experienced a positive start to July, recording seven consecutive days of gains for the first time since September 2013. Following a 3.2% increase since the beginning of the month, this rally breaks a streak without a 1% move, up or down, dating back to June 5. Market watchers are also keeping a close eye on stocks that are making significant moves after trading hours, such as WD-40 Company, Costco, and others, which experienced noteworthy gains in extended-hours trading sessions.
As the market awaits the release of the Consumer Price Index report and monitors stock movements, stock futures opened relatively unchanged, with Dow, S&P 500, and Nasdaq 100 futures trading near flat on Wednesday night. This stability in the futures market sets the stage for potential volatility based on upcoming economic data releases and corporate earnings reports, shaping investors’ decisions in the days ahead.