2026.01.1206:44:00UTC+00European Markets Head for Subdued Open

European equities were poised for a steady open on Monday as investors considered the implications of ongoing geopolitical tensions and issues surrounding the autonomy of the U.S. Federal Reserve. In a significant development, U.S. federal prosecutors have launched a criminal investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, focusing on his June testimony to the Senate Banking Committee. Powell, in turn, has alleged that the Trump administration is exerting undue pressure on the central bank to conform to its policy agenda. Meanwhile, geopolitical tensions remain high, particularly with escalating protests in Iran, which could potentially lead to broader conflict. Reports suggest President Donald Trump is evaluating potential intervention strategies. In Europe, market participants will closely monitor Swiss consumer confidence figures for December, as well as earnings reports from Hornbach Baumarkt and Knights Group. In premarket activity, futures for the Euro Stoxx 50 and Stoxx 600 were largely unchanged, with a slight downward bias.