Washington

DONALD Trump may want to watch what he wishes for. If Federal Reserve boss Jerome Powell does what the president wants, American assets could lose their appeal as a global haven.

Strategists warn that more than just the central bank's credibility would be hurt if the Fed were to put on the brakes on monetary policy tightening. Mr Trump would get his desire for a weaker dollar, but rising inflation expectations would dent the perceived safety of US assets and eventually boost longer-term financing costs for the government and American consumers. On the other hand, global liquidity and growth could receive a lift, at least initially, and emerging markets that have been maligned by Mr Trump could benefit.