According to @garyblack00, U.S. equity futures are sharply lower pre-market as the Trump Administration’s push for lower short-term rates threatens Fed independence, lifting inflation expectations and long-term yields, a setup that typically pressures high-duration equities and favors defensive assets (source: @garyblack00 on X, Jan 12, 2026). Gold and silver have surged to new highs, signaling risk-off rotation into precious metals amid rising inflation expectations (source: @garyblack00 on X, Jan 12, 2026). Brent crude is lower after Iran said security forces have full control following two weeks of unrest, easing supply risk premia (source: @garyblack00 on X, Jan 12, 2026). NVDA and TSLA are down in pre-market trading in line with the Nasdaq, highlighting broad growth-tech weakness under higher rate expectations (source: @garyblack00 on X, Jan 12, 2026). The post does not cite any direct impact on crypto assets or BTC/ETH pricing, implying no immediate crypto-specific signal from this update (source: @garyblack00 on X, Jan 12, 2026).

According to @garyblack00, U.S. equity futures are sharply lower pre-market after actions by the Trump Administration to escalate pressure on the Federal Reserve to cut short-term rates, which he notes threatens Fed independence and would increase inflation expectations and long-term interest rates (source: @garyblack00 on X, Jan 12, 2026). According to @garyblack00, gold and silver surged to new highs in early trading, signaling strong demand for havens amid policy uncertainty (source: @garyblack00 on X, Jan 12, 2026). According to @garyblack00, Brent crude fell after Iran reported security forces have full control of the country following two weeks of upheaval (source: @garyblack00 on X, Jan 12, 2026). According to @garyblack00, NVDA and TSLA are both down pre-market in line with the Nasdaq, reflecting broad tech weakness into the open (source: @garyblack00 on X, Jan 12, 2026).

According to Gary Black, market pricing implies a 95% probability of a 25 bp Fed funds rate cut on Wednesday to 3.5–3.75%, with two additional 25 bp cuts expected in March and June 2026, and Powell likely to lean hawkish at the press conference to appease FOMC inflation hawks, source: Gary Black (X, Dec 7, 2025). He states that National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett is the frontrunner for the next Fed chair and could join as soon as February, potentially rendering Powell a lame duck for the final months of his chairmanship, source: Gary Black (X, Dec 7, 2025). Black adds that Hassett is a known dove, likely lifting inflation expectations, which he cites as a reason the 10-year Treasury yield has risen in recent weeks, source: Gary Black (X, Dec 7, 2025). For crypto traders, easing policy and rising inflation expectations have historically coincided with stronger performance in liquidity-sensitive risk assets, including BTC and ETH, when real yields fall, source: ARK Invest, Big Ideas 2023; Federal Reserve, Financial Stability Report 2023.