According to sources, U.S. President Donald Trump may appoint a new Chair of the Federal Reserve (FED), which the global market is eagerly awaiting, in the first week of January 2026.

Although the decision-making process is said to have entered the "Final Stage", important names are gradually emerging on the list of candidates.

The meticulous search for the head of the Federal Reserve, one of the most important positions in U.S. President Donald Trump's economic administration, is nearing completion. According to a report by CNBC citing high-level sources, the new Chair may be officially announced in the first week of January.

Trump's final step before making a final decision will be a meeting at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida during the last week of the year. The President is expected to interview Rick Rieder, one of the remaining candidates, there and then make his final decision.

As the number of candidates narrows, the market is focusing on four names:

  • Kevin Hassett: He is still seen as the leading candidate in forecasting the market. However, Hassett's close relationship with Trump has raised some concerns on Wall Street about the independence of the Federal Reserve (Fed).

  • Christopher Waller: Mr. Waller, a current member of the Federal Reserve (FED), is said to have had a very "effective" meeting recently. His understanding of Wall Street is being positively assessed by the market.

  • Kevin Warsh: Mr. Warsh, who was once a board member of the Federal Reserve (FED), remains high on this list.

  • Rick Rieder: A prominent financial figure who will conduct the final interview of the year.

According to sources, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is closely monitoring this process but is avoiding favoritism toward any candidate. Sources suggest that Mr. Bessent is trying to create a neutral environment “so that the President can make his own choice.”

A source close to Mr. Trump summarized the situation as follows: “This is one of the most important decisions in the administration of the most powerful man in the world; the President himself will make this decision, not a committee.”