Asian shares are mostly higher while U.S. futures slipped after President Donald Trump rocked Wall Street by saying he had "talked about the concept of firing" the head of the Federal Reserve.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell is gaining some key backing on Capitol Hill from GOP senators who fear the repercussions if President Donald Trump follows through with threats to try and remove the politically independent central banker.

President Donald Trump said he’s not planning to fire Jerome Powell, and still managed to make it sound like a threat. Trump’s comments capped a hectic few hours that took his pressure campaign against the Federal Reserve chief to a new level — and sent markets into a shortlived nosedive.