Global equities rally as U.S.-Iran tensions enter third month
Markets continue to climb into the third month of the conflict between Washington and Tehran, while a separate development sees the US Justice Department drop a criminal probe into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell.

Global stock markets are recording gains as the ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran enters its third month. Financial indices are demonstrating resilience and growth despite the escalation of geopolitical tensions that have persisted for at least this duration.
The rally occurs even as the situation between the two nations remains volatile. While the broader market sentiment appears buoyant, the specific economic mechanisms driving this upward movement have not been detailed in available reports.
CNBC has identified three specific, real-world reasons driving this rally, though the publication has not elaborated on the nature of these factors in the provided text. The existence of these underlying drivers suggests a complex interplay of variables influencing investor behaviour during this period of uncertainty.
Separately, the US Justice Department has concluded its criminal investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. The probe, which focused on cost overruns regarding the Federal Reserve's Washington headquarters renovations, has been officially dropped.
Following the decision to close the criminal inquiry, the matter has been transferred to the Federal Reserve's Office of the Inspector General for further review. This administrative shift marks a significant change in the oversight of the investigation into the central bank's leadership.
The juxtaposition of rising equity markets and the conclusion of the probe into the Federal Reserve Chair highlights the distinct trajectories of geopolitical risk and regulatory oversight in the current economic landscape.
