Powell has never responded directly to Trump's provocations, and I, personally, expect this issue to play a predominant role at his latest meeting in Jackson Hole, perhaps even more so than the interest rate discussion. The independence of central banks is much more important than a 25 basis point change in the coming month.

Gold rose nearly 1% on Wednesday as the U.S. dollar eased, while market participants braced for the minutes of the U.S. central bank's last policy meeting and upcoming Jackson Hole symposium for clues on future interest rate moves.

The stock market is heading into a catalyst-filled week as Fed Chair Jerome Powell gets ready to speak at Jackson Hole and big retailers report earnings.

Explore the mixed state of the US economy, from inflation and labor market resilience to Fed policies, and their potential impact on the stock

Liquidity constraints pose a significant challenge for BTC bulls looking to engineer a steep uptrend well into the year-end.

Stocks start the week just shy of record highs, underpinned by a well-received corporate earnings season and hopes the Federal Reserve will soon start reducing official borrowing costs again. Investors are therefore keen that Friday’s keynote address by Fed Chair Jerome Powell at the Jackson Hole symposium will be suitably dovish.

London (UKX) +1.08% at 9,288.  UK's inflation rises to 3.8% in July, highest in 18 months. Germany (DAX:IND) -0.60% at 24,277. France (CAC:IND) -0.08% at 7,973. The headline annual inflation rate in the Eurozone was unchanged from the prior month at 2% in July.

The U.S. dollar was little changed on Wednesday as traders awaited a speech from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell at the annual Jackson Hole central bankers' symposium later this week for clues on the path of monetary policy.