The Globe and Mail reports in its Monday, April 7, edition that U.S. Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell prefers to wear purple ties. The Globe's Rita Trichur writes that his sartorial statement was initially born of personal preference. Now the hue of his cravat is a symbol of his determination to protect the Fed's independence. "At the beginning, the only significance was that I like purple ties," Mr. Powell told journalists on Friday. However, wearing a blue or red tie became "awkward" because those colours are identified with the Democrats and Republicans. "We are strictly non-political. I can't stress that enough," He said. "It's not that we're bipartisan, we are non-political. We don't do that. So, purple is a good colour for that." Mr. Powell is proving to be as deft and diplomatic as President Donald Trump is clumsy and crude. He is standing out as a rare calming force at a time when Mr. Trump is inciting a global trade war that risks reigniting inflation and pushing the U.S. economy into a recession. By modelling self-restraint, Mr. Powell is protecting the integrity of the Fed, even as Mr. Trump puts increasing and inappropriate pressure on him to cut interest rates.