US stocks were mixed Thursday as President Donald Trump touted trade deal progress with Europe and China and investors digested a threat from the president to fire Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell.

President Trump lashed out at Fed Chair Jerome Powell over interest rates, saying he should "certainly lower them now."

President Donald Trump said he could force out Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, rebuking the notion that the US central bank is independent, and vented frustration that monetary policymakers had not recently cut interest rates.

Investors are winding down another volatile session, with U.S. stocks on pace to wrap a losing week. Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell fired a warning over tariffs, on Thursday President Trump clapped back calling for Powell to cut rates.

U.S. stocks fell Wednesday after Nvidia warned new restrictions on exports to China will chisel billions of dollars off its results, while companies around the world said President Donald Trump’s trade war is clouding forecasts for how they and the economy will do this year.