The Federal Open Market Committee's decision to reduce interest rates for the first time in nine months lifted bank stocks Wednesday. The 25-basis-point reduction could lead to net interest income headwinds now, but loan growth later, analysts said.

The Federal Reserve is widely expected to lower interest rates, but questions about how big of a cut and the trajectory for future cuts remain uncertain — and the White House's power struggle with the central bank is a complicating factor.

Market watchers expect the Federal Open Market Committee to announce a 25 basis point rate cut today, but are also watching for signals of more cuts to come and how many members push for a larger 50 basis point cut.

Housing finance firms have anticipated a 25 basis point move, so what could move the needle is less that outcome than actions that go beyond or differ from it.

If the Fed reinvested the roughly $18 billion in monthly "roll-off" into new MBS, it could compress mortgage spreads, the investment management firm said.

The White House said it will appeal a circuit court ruling allowing Federal Reserve Gov. Lisa Cook to remain on the central bank board while her lawsuit challenging her dismissal is litigated.

If the appeals court denies the Justice Department's request for a so-called stay order, the president is likely to immediately ask the Supreme Court to intervene.

Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook described an Atlanta property at the center of a lawsuit over her attempted ouster as a "vacation home," according to documents viewed by Bloomberg News.

The White House's appeal of a lower court injunction allowing Federal Reserve Gov. Lisa Cook to remain on the Fed board is urging the court to rule in its favor ahead of the Federal Open Market Committee meeting on Sept. 16 and 17.

The White House has appealed a D.C. District Court ruling allowing Federal Reserve Gov. Lisa Cook to remain on the Fed board pending the outcome of her challenge to President Trump's moves to fire her.

Bill Pulte, director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, may have violated federal privacy laws by releasing personal information on mortgages taken out by Federal Reserve Gov. Lisa Cook — actions that served as a basis for President Trump's efforts to remove her from office late last month.

Treasuries rose, led by short-dated notes, after a reading on wholesale inflation came in weaker than expected, cementing bets that the Federal Reserve will start to cut interest rates next week. 

A federal district court judge granted an injunction allowing Federal Reserve Gov. Lisa Cook to remain on the central bank's board pending the outcome of her legal challenge to President Donald Trump's move to fire her late last month.

Investors are anticipating the annual preliminary benchmark revision of US payrolls data. Further signs of softening could further raise expectations for Fed easing.

White House National Economic Council NEC Director Kevin Hassett endorsed insulating the Fed from political pressure but echoed Trump allies' calls for reevaluating its mission.

Stephen Miran will take unpaid leave from and might seek to return to President Trump's Council of Economic Advisers, he said, raising conflict of interest questions in his nomination hearing for a seat on the Federal Reserve Board.

The Justice Department has opened a criminal investigation into Federal Reserve Gov. Lisa Cook and allegations of mortgage fraud, allegations that spurred President Trump to terminate her position on the Fed Board last week. Cook is challenging the president's authority to remove her in court.

Wall Street strategists say investors are becoming more concerned about Federal Reserve independence as President Donald Trump seeks to impose his will on the central bank and pushes for interest-rate cuts.

Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis President Alberto G. Musalem said central bank autonomy leads to lower inflation and stable employment numbers. His comments come amid the Trump administration's attempt to remove a Fed board member for cause.

Federal Reserve Gov. Lisa Cook's attorneys filed additional motions in her suit against President Donald Trump over his attempt to oust her from the central bank last week. A judge overseeing the case set a Thursday deadline for final briefs.