U.S. Futures Drop, Safe‑Haven Assets Rally as Fed Chair Powell Faces Criminal Investigation

U.S. financial markets wobbled Monday as stock index futures slid sharply following news that Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell is the subject of a criminal investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice. Prosecutors served subpoenas tied to Powell’s congressional testimony about the Fed’s multi‑billion‑dollar renovation of its headquarters, prompting concerns about the independence of the central bank. Investors responded by moving into safer assets: gold and silver prices climbed to fresh highs, with gold breaking through record levels as demand for haven assets surged amid geopolitical tensions, including unrest in Iran. The U.S. dollar weakened and long‑term Treasury yields edged higher as markets digested the implications of the investigation and its potential impact on monetary policy. Stock futures for major indices such as the S&P 500, Dow and Nasdaq all recorded notable declines in early trading, reflecting increased risk aversion among investors. Powell has publicly defended the Fed’s independence, calling suggestions of political influence “pretexts” amid pressure from the Trump administration to cut interest rates. #PowellInvestigation #SafeHavenRally #MarketVolatility #GoldSurges #SlimScan #GrowthStocks #CANSLIM