U.S. President Donald Trump gestures as he talks to the media on South Lawn of the White House in Washington, U.S., before his departure to Camp David, December 16, 2017. REUTERS/Yuri GripasWASHINGTON - 24 December 2018: U.S. President Donald Trump's Treasury secretary called top U.S. bankers on Sunday amid an ongoing rout on Wall Street and made plans to convene a group of officials known as the "Plunge Protection Team."U.S. "Today I convened individual calls with the CEOs of the nation's six largest banks," Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said on Twitter shortly before financial markets were due to open in Asia.U.S. equity index futures dropped late on Sunday as electronic trading resumed to kick off a holiday-shortened week. Mnuchin said on Saturday Trump told him he had "never suggested firing" Powell.Trump has criticized the U.S. central bank for raising interest rates this year, which could further dampen economic growth.

Source: Egypt Today December 23, 2018 23:37 UTC