Fed Chair Jerome Powell Faces Criminal Investigation Amid Market Optimism
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jan 13 2026
0mins
Should l Buy GS?
Source: CNBC
- Investigation Context: Fed Chair Jerome Powell is under federal investigation regarding a $2.5 billion renovation of the central bank's headquarters, interpreted as a reflection of the Trump administration's frustration with the Fed's interest rate policies, potentially impacting market confidence.
- Market Reaction: Despite the investigation, the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average reached new highs on Monday, indicating investor optimism regarding economic health and earnings prospects.
- Political Implications: The investigation has drawn bipartisan criticism from former Fed chairs and economists, who view it as an unprecedented attack on the Fed's independence, which could lead to increased policy uncertainty affecting future monetary decisions.
- International Trade Risks: Trump's announcement of a 25% tariff on countries doing business with Iran may escalate tensions in U.S.-China trade relations, prompting investors to remain vigilant about potential market volatility and retaliatory measures.
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Analyst Views on GS
Wall Street analysts forecast GS stock price to rise
12 Analyst Rating
5 Buy
7 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 832.030
Low
604.00
Averages
951.45
High
1100
Current: 832.030
Low
604.00
Averages
951.45
High
1100
About GS
The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. is a global financial institution that delivers a range of financial services to a large and diversified client base that includes corporations, financial institutions, governments and individuals. Its segments include Global Banking & Markets, Asset & Wealth Management and Platform Solutions. The Global Banking & Markets segment offers a range of services, including financing, advisory services, risk distribution, and hedging for its institutional and corporate clients. It facilitates client transactions and makes markets in fixed income, equity, currency and commodity products. The Asset & Wealth Management segment manages assets and offers investment products across all asset classes to a diverse set of clients. It also provides investing and wealth advisory solutions. The Platform Solutions segment includes consumer platforms, such as partnerships offering credit cards and point-of-sale financing, and transaction banking and other platform businesses.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- Quanta Services' Growth Outlook: Quanta Services has seen its backlog grow by 27% year-over-year to $44 billion, with a revenue guidance midpoint of $33.5 billion for this year, reflecting strong demand in power infrastructure and renewable energy, particularly from data centers and domestic manufacturing reshoring.
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See More
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See More
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- Generac Strong Demand: Generac's backup power solutions are experiencing surging demand from data centers, with a backlog for large diesel generators reaching $400 million, most of which is expected to ship this year, indicating the company's strong position in the rapidly growing energy market.
- Quanta Services Growth Outlook: Quanta Services' backlog has grown 27% year-over-year to $44 billion, with projected revenue guidance of $33.5 billion at the midpoint for this year, showcasing strong demand and market share expansion in the power infrastructure sector.
- RTX Stable Growth: RTX's backlog has reached $268 billion, with adjusted EPS guidance of $6.70 representing a 6.5% year-over-year growth, reflecting sustained demand and profitability in the aerospace and defense markets.
- Industry Trends: As artificial intelligence and electricity demand surge, industrial companies like Generac and Quanta Services benefit from market transformations, which are expected to drive stable growth in the coming years, attracting investor interest.
See More
Industrial Companies' Role in Energy Infrastructure
- Generac's Market Expansion: Generac is capitalizing on strong demand for backup power solutions, particularly in data centers, with a total addressable market for large diesel generators projected at $15 billion annually and a backlog of $400 million, indicating robust market potential.
- Quanta Services' Growth Outlook: Quanta Services has seen its backlog grow by 27% year-over-year to $44 billion, with a revenue guidance midpoint of $33.5 billion for this year, reflecting strong demand in power infrastructure and renewable energy, particularly from data centers and domestic manufacturing reshoring.
- RTX's Stable Revenue: RTX's backlog has reached $268 billion, with projected adjusted EPS of $6.70 representing a 6.5% year-over-year growth, supported by its diversified revenue streams and high-margin aftermarket services, providing long-term stability and growth potential.
- Overall Industry Stability: These industrial companies play a crucial role in modern energy infrastructure, and as electricity demand rises and technology advances, they not only provide stable support for the economy but also demonstrate long-term growth potential, attracting investor interest.
See More
Amazon Plans Up to $42 Billion Bond Offering to Fund AI and Infrastructure
- Debt Financing Scale: Amazon is exploring a debt issuance that could raise at least $37 billion and potentially up to $42 billion, providing crucial funding for its investments in artificial intelligence and infrastructure.
- Diverse Issuance Structure: The debt offering may include as many as 11 different tranches, with maturities ranging from 2 to 50 years, demonstrating Amazon's flexibility and diversity in its financing strategy.
- Market Expectations: It is anticipated that U.S. bonds will dominate the issuance, raising about $25 billion to $30 billion, while another $10 billion may be raised through euro-denominated bonds issued across 8 tranches, further broadening its financing channels.
- Strong Underwriting Team: Major Wall Street banks, including Goldman Sachs, J.P. Morgan, and Citigroup, are expected to manage the debt issuance, indicating market confidence and support for Amazon's financing plans.
See More
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- Confirmation Block: Senator Thom Tillis from North Carolina stated that he will not vote for any Fed nominees, including Kevin Warsh, until the criminal investigation into Fed Chair Jerome Powell is resolved, indicating strong dissatisfaction with the Fed nomination process.
- Political Context: Tillis believes that the investigation into Powell is politically motivated, particularly due to Powell's refusal to cut interest rates as quickly as demanded by President Trump, complicating the confirmation of Fed nominees.
- Evaluation of Warsh: Despite expressing admiration for Warsh's skills, stating he is 'already impressed' with his work, Tillis remains firm on not voting, reflecting a lack of trust in the current Fed leadership.
- Process Over Personal: Tillis emphasized that this is not about personal issues but rather about procedural integrity, indicating that he prioritizes the completeness and transparency of the nomination process, which could impact future Fed nominations and policy directions.
See More
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Oil Futures Decline: U.S. and Brent crude oil prices fell by $1.2 a barrel, extending losses in the market.
Trump's Prediction: Former President Donald Trump suggested that the ongoing war with Iran could come to an end soon.
See More
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- Oil Price Fluctuations: U.S. benchmark WTI crude prices have fallen below $90 a barrel, despite being up over 50% year-to-date, indicating market optimism regarding improved U.S.-Iran relations, yet geopolitical risks continue to loom over oil prices.
- Tech Stock Rating Changes: Intuit was upgraded to buy from hold by Rothschild & Co Redburn, with its stock rising over 30% since late February, although it remains down 28.5% for the year, reflecting a recovery in market confidence in its software products.
- Cybersecurity Stock Bounce: Morgan Stanley upgraded CrowdStrike from hold to buy, with its stock up over 20% from last month's low, highlighting the positive impact of AI technology on the cybersecurity sector and indicating optimistic market expectations for future growth.
- Hewlett Packard Enterprise's Positive Outlook: Despite memory cost pressures, the company raised its full-year earnings outlook, with reported quarterly revenues slightly below expectations but gross margins and adjusted EPS exceeding forecasts, demonstrating strong demand in the data center buildout.
See More
