Fed Chair Pledges to Raise Rates to Fight Inflation

The latest from Fed Chair Powell’s first day of confirmation hearings, including the expected news that the central bank is prepared to raise interest rates to tame inflation, tying that goal to the Fed’s other mandate by “suggesting that keeping price gains under control would be critical for achieving a sustainably strong labor market” - NYTimes and WSJ and Bloomberg

If market reaction is any indication of Powell’s odds of keeping his job, expect another 6 years of the Jay Train - NYTimes and WSJ and Bloomberg

The FTC had a nice bounceback in its antitrust effort against Facebook parent Meta this week, as D.C. District Court Judge James Boasberg ruled that the agency cured the ills of its initial lawsuit against the company and can proceed “in its quest to curtain the power of the biggest tech companies” - NYTimes and WSJ and Bloomberg and Law360

Even as U.S. airlines continue to struggle to keep all planes in the sky, Delta and a large flight attendants union (that’s pushing to unionize Delta’s flight crews) are fighting over the recommended isolation period for workers who test positive for Covid - NYTimes

Citigroup is looking to consciously uncouple from the consumer banking business at Banamex, the Mexico-based financial giant it bought in 2001 for $12.5 billion. While the deal has proved “extremely profitable” for Citi, the consumer banking division in particular has been “plagued by scandal,” prompting Citi CEO Jane Fraser to announce plans to either sell the division or take Banamex public - NYTimes and WSJ and Bloomberg

Ken Griffin’s Citadel Securities is accepting its first “outside investment” thanks to VC firm Sequoia Capital and crypto investor Paradigm and a deal that values the “electronic- trading firm . . . at around $22 billion.” The $1.15 billion investment “will give Citadel Securities capital to continue expanding globally . . . and could be a precursor to an initial public offering for the business” - WSJ and Bloomberg and NYTimes

The good news for Boeing? It outsold rival Airbus last year and had its best year since 2018. The bad? Airbus outdelivered it by a LOT, more than doubling the output of the U.S. planemaker - WSJ

I haven’t yet been caught up in the Wordle craze that’s sweeping certain segments of the online world. But for those that have, do make sure that your mania isn’t pushing you to seek out an app that doesn’t yet exist - WSJ

Stay safe, and get boosted,

MDR

The Robins Kaplan Financial Daily Dose features top stories and latest news headlines in financial markets, banking, securities and technology topics.