Reminder: Federal Reserve Chairman Powell will deliver a speech later today.

As the start of the week, Federal Reserve Chairman Powell will make a public appearance later today. Apart from the need to be vigilant about any sudden news related to the US and Iran, this will be the most anticipated event of the day's schedule. The Federal Reserve Board's schedule shows that Chairman Powell will participate in a discussion event at 10:30 am on March 30, 2026. Powell will participate in a guided discussion in an introductory economics class at Harvard University, which is typically part of the school's economics curriculum. Although the discussion topic is not yet clear, it is expected that Powell will express his views on a wide range of issues such as the economy, inflation, and monetary policy. It can be certain that he will avoid issues related to the politicization of the Federal Reserve. Nonetheless, it is widely expected in the market that President Trump will likely harshly criticize Powell again after this event. If Powell releases statements indicating that the Federal Reserve hopes to pause rate cuts and maintain policy flexibility in the Middle East situation, this is even more likely. The Federal Open Market Committee recently kept interest rates in the range of 3.5%-3.75%, pausing a series of rate cuts. The market is analyzing whether Powell will signal a pause in rate cuts or if the persistent inflation pressure brought by energy costs will force a shift in policy, which is also the focus of discussions by experts in late March 2026. Powell's most recent public speech was on March 21, 2026, at the American Public Administration Association.