What to know about the Federal Reserve's big Jackson Hole conference

The Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City’s annual Jackson Hole symposium—held at a lodge in Grand Teton National Park since 1982—has become a high-stakes stage for central bankers’ messaging. This year’s theme is “Financial Innovation: Implications for Payments and Policy.” Fed Chair Kevin Warsh is scheduled to deliver his first Jackson Hole speech as chairman on Friday at 8am local time (10am ET). Traditionally, the chair uses the address for a long-range policy signal, but Warsh had flagged he might lean into broader questions such as productivity and demographics. Bond market jitters and prior Treasury market interventions are raising scrutiny over future rate decisions.