During a January 20 interview on CNBC, Citigroup CEO Jane Fraser addressed the recent sell-off in U.S. equities, the dollar’s slide and the sharp rise in Treasury yields triggered by President Trump’s tariff threat over Greenland. Fraser noted that while gold and silver experienced inflows and bond prices fell, these moves reflect short-term headline reactions rather than lasting shifts in investor preference. She cited robust holiday consumer spending—up roughly 4% year-over-year in December—and tax-code changes set to support spring consumption as evidence that U.S. corporate fundamentals remain strong. Fraser argued that there are few compelling alternatives to American assets, predicting “momentum will once again favor U.S. stocks and bonds” once trade headlines are resolved. Wedbush analysts echoed her view in a research note, forecasting that tariff rhetoric will have “more bark than bite” and that tensions with European leaders will ease through negotiation.

Also on January 20, Fraser told CNBC that a proposed 10% cap on consumer credit-card interest—floated by President Trump on social media—would backfire by restricting access to credit for middle- and lower-income households. She noted that Citigroup already offers “low-cost, no-frill” card products with rates below 15% to qualified customers and warned that a statutory cap would force issuers to tighten underwriting standards. Fraser estimated that limiting rates could reduce total card spending by up to 10%, a hit that would ripple through airlines, retailers, hotels and restaurants, all of which generate fee income from co-branded card partnerships. Citigroup’s own credit-card receivables portfolio stood at $120 billion at year-end, representing 25% of the bank’s consumer-lending book. Fraser concluded that preserving credit availability is essential to sustaining consumer outlays and the broader U.S. economic expansion.