Morning Brief

DOJ's probe of Fed's Powell: What investors need to know

Morning Brief

Show Notes

Morning Brief host Julie Hyman and Yahoo Finance Markets and Data Editor Jared Blikre track several of Monday's top trending stock tickers, including Paramount Skydance (PSKY) launching a proxy battle against Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), Meta Platforms (META) hiring former Trump security advisor Dina Powell McCormick as its new president and vice chair, and Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF) plummeting on its fourth quarter guidance.

The US Department of Justice's (DOJ) criminal investigation launched against Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell raises questions about the status of the US central bank's independence, as President Trump mulls over Powell's replacement for when his term ends in May. Truist CIO and chief market strategist Keith Lerner assesses the bond market reaction to the latest headlines and how Wall Street is shifting back into the "Sell America" trade. Keith Lerner calls the Fed investigation the second "curveball" to happen in 2026.

Takeaways:

The US Department of Justice (DOJ) has subpoenaed the Federal Reserve as it launches a criminal investigation into the central bank's Chair Jerome Powell

US stock futures drop in Monday's premarket as Wall Street finds the "Sell America" trade to be back on, finding safe haven in precious metals like gold and silver

Earnings season kicks off for major bank stocks and Delta Air Lines (DAL) this week.

Yahoo Finance's flagship show, Morning Brief, is your go-to source for smarter investing and market moves.

Thoughts? Questions? Fan mail? Email us at ⁠[email protected]⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

More from Morning Brief

Feb 19, 2026

Futures point lower as investors weigh cautious guidance from Walmart and rising geopolitical risk tied to Iran. Dow futures fall about 166 points, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 also in the red. Markets are watching consumer data and oil prices for the next signal.

Feb 18, 2026

Stocks are rebounding after another AI-driven sell-off, with housing starts and durable goods topping estimates despite December declines. Still, US equities are off to their worst relative start since 1995, as investors await the GDP report and reassess positioning.

Feb 17, 2026

Futures are lower after the holiday break, with Nasdaq 100 futures off about 0.7% as investors digest last week’s worst stretch since November. The AI transition remains the central driver, with traders watching earnings commentary and capital expenditures discipline for clarity.

Feb 12, 2026

US stocks are mixed premarket after a solid jobs report and a stronger earnings season. Investors are weighing resilient growth against fewer Fed rate cuts. Value is outperforming growth early in the year as traders reassess positioning.

Feb 11, 2026

Stock futures are higher after January payrolls rose 130,000 versus 65,000 expected, with unemployment ticking down to 4.3%. Dow futures are up 250 points as investors digest stronger labor data and push Fed rate cut odds to July. The key question now: does a resilient economy delay easing?

See all episodes →