Retail investors are expressing concerns regarding U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s comments on tariffs and trade tensions with China, delivered at a closed-door investor summit hosted by JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM). Bessent’s remarks, which reportedly triggered a $2.2 trillion market surge, have been criticized for potentially excluding retail traders from critical market-moving information.
The Kobeissi Letter, a popular financial newsletter, questioned the fairness of the event, noting it was not open to the public or media. Bessent reportedly stated that he expects a ‘de-escalation with China,’ describing the current trade environment as unsustainable for both sides. These comments were made at 12:00 PM EST, leading to a significant market rally, while retail investors remained uninformed until President Donald Trump’s statement at 5:18 PM EST.
Some market participants, including a large S&P 500 options trader, reportedly benefited significantly from this information gap. Critics, such as Rep. Adam Schiff and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, have accused Trump of manipulating markets to favor Wall Street donors.
— new from Benzinga
