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CME Group plans to launch Solana futures on March 17

(Reuters) -CME Group said on Friday that it plans to roll out futures contracts on cryptocurrency Solana on March 17, pending regulatory review. The exchange said it expects to debut two contracts, one for 500 Solana coins and a "micro-sized" contract for 25 Solana. "We are responding to increasing client demand for a broader set of regulated products to manage cryptocurrency price risk," said Giovanni Vicioso, global head of cryptocurrency products at CME.

US Spending Drops on Cold Weather; Inflation Gauge Offers Relief

(Bloomberg) -- US consumers unexpectedly pulled back on spending on goods like cars in January amid extreme winter weather, and a slowdown in services, if sustained, may raise concerns about the resilience of the economy.Most Read from BloombergCuts to Section 8 Housing Assistance Loom Amid HUD UncertaintyThe Trump Administration Takes Aim at Transportation ResearchShelters Await Billions in Federal Money for Homelessness ProvidersNYC Office Buildings See Resurgence as Investors Pile Into BondsN

Inflation, growth may be in conflict but Fed seen restarting cuts in June

New data may point to emerging tension between the U.S. Federal Reserve's dual inflation and employment goals, as price pressures remained sticky in January while consumer spending slowed more than expected. Traders maintained bets the Fed will cut interest rates by a quarter of a percentage point at its June and September meetings this year, but analysts noted the situation seemed to have become more complex and could present policymakers with a difficult decision in the weeks ahead. Hints of slowing growth alongside inflation still stuck above the Fed's 2% target, "presents a dilemma for the Fed...if you add them together, that equals stagflation," said Peter Cardillo, chief market economist for Spartan Capital Securities in New York.