Key Takeaways
- President Trump demanded the Federal Reserve slash interest rates to 1% or lower, claiming that ending trade with deficit-running countries could generate $1.5 trillion annually.
- Exxon Mobil (XOM) is reportedly nearing a preliminary deal with PDVSA to reinvest in Venezuela’s oil fields, with a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) potentially signed this month.
- Lennar (LEN) shares fell in after-hours trading after missing Q3 earnings estimates and issuing a disappointing Q4 delivery guidance of 22,000 to 23,000 homes.
- The White House issued a presidential memorandum to remove Canadian-origin goods from U.S. federal procurement, citing a lack of reciprocity in trade.
- Synergy CHC Corp. (SNYR) will have its common stock suspended from Nasdaq on September 18, 2026, following a delisting notice triggered by its Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing.
Trump Pressures Fed Amid Global Trade Shift
President Donald Trump intensified his criticism of the Federal Reserve on Wednesday, calling for interest rates to be slashed to 1% or lower. In a series of posts on Truth Social, the President argued that the United States possesses the "best credit in the world" and that lower borrowing costs are essential to sustain a "booming" investment environment.
Trump also proposed a radical shift in trade policy, asserting that halting commerce with nations where the U.S. runs a trade deficit—which he characterized as a "loss"—could generate at least $1.5 trillion a year. These comments come as the administration continues to leverage trade as a tool for economic negotiation, with US-Mexico trade talks reportedly pushed back by one week according to the Wall Street Journal.
Energy and Infrastructure Developments
In a significant shift for the energy sector, Exxon Mobil (XOM) is nearing a preliminary agreement to return to Venezuela's oil fields. The potential MOU with PDVSA marks a major reversal after years of legal disputes and nationalization, signaling a renewed interest in the country's massive crude reserves under evolving geopolitical conditions.
Meanwhile, the housing market showed signs of strain as Lennar (LEN) reported Q3 revenue of $8.05 billion, missing the estimated $8.30 billion. The homebuilder's EPS of $1.19 also trailed the $1.28 consensus, as high mortgage rates and cooling consumer confidence weigh on new home deliveries.
Trade Reciprocity and Market Compliance
The White House escalated trade tensions with its northern neighbor by signing a memorandum to identify and remove Canadian items from U.S. government procurement. The administration cited Canada's "Buy Canadian" policies as a barrier to American firms, moving to restrict Canadian access to the $280 billion federal procurement market.
In the equity markets, Synergy CHC Corp. (SNYR) is facing an imminent exit from the Nasdaq exchange. Following its September 4 bankruptcy filing, the company received a formal delisting notice; trading is scheduled to be suspended at the opening of business on September 18, 2026.
Ed Liston is a senior contributing editor at TheStockMarketWatch.com. An active market watcher and investor, Ed guides an independent team of experienced analysts and writes for multiple stock trader publications.