The dollar index slipped to around 98.9 on Monday, ending a four-day rally after federal prosecutors opened a criminal investigation on Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, putting the central bank’s independence into question. Powell has described the threat of criminal charges as “pretexts” aimed at pressuring the Fed to align policy with the Trump administration’s preferences, and warned that such actions could undermine the central bank’s ability to set interest rates based on economic conditions rather than political influence. The greenback also faced downward pressure from wagers on additional Federal Reserve rate cuts this year after Friday’s nonfarm payrolls report showed job growth below forecasts for December. Investors now look ahead to the latest inflation data and key bank earnings this week for further guidance. Elsewhere, markets weighed geopolitical risks amid intensifying protests in Iran and heightened uncertainty in South America.
