WASHINGTON: US stock futures jumped after the FBI reaffirmed Sunday its decision to not prosecute Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton over her use of private email while secretary of state.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation announced a review of newly discovered emails had provided no reason to alter its July decision that Clinton and her aides’ use of the private server for official documents, while “reckless,” did not warrant criminal charges.
The lifting of an FBI threat that Clinton might face charges — less than two days before her face-off with Republican Donald Trump — raised investor sentiment on Wall Street.
Ahead of Monday’s market opening, futures on the broad-market S&P 500 index leaped 1.4 percent to 2,108.25. Futures based on the 30-stock Dow Jones Industrial Average were up 1.1 percent at 17,999.
The turnaround on Wall Street came just after FBI Director James Comey announced, in a letter to Congress, that no criminal charges were warranted against Clinton.
Late last month, Comey sent shockwaves through both campaigns by announcing a renewed FBI investigation into Clinton’s email use.
That revelation was criticized by Democrats, applauded by Republicans and eroded Clinton’s lead in public opinion polls against Trump.
