Bridgewater: Trump may prefer a Fed chairman who is more tolerant of inflation

Bob Prince, chief investment officer of Bridgewater Associates, said at the third annual Global Financial Leaders Investment Summit in Hong Kong on Wednesday that President-elect Trump's policies on tariffs, fiscal stimulus and immigration may prevent the United States from achieving its 2% inflation target. If the U.S. inflation rate is still close to 3% in about a year and a half, Trump may be inclined to nominate a Fed chairman who is willing to comply with a higher inflation target, which would allow him to cut interest rates. He added, "People are looking forward to rate cuts. But if inflation remains unchanged, then it may not be possible to cut rates. I think the situation will be interesting in 18 months, when the current Fed Chairman Powell's term will end." (Jinshi)