There is a 60.4% chance the Fed will to move toward higher rates by October, based on Bloomberg data Published: March 20, 2026 at 12:33 p.m. ET Share Resize Stocks and bonds struggle as traders see chances of Fed rate hike soar above 50% — up sharply from earlier this week - MarketWatch Traders are contemplating the growing chances that the Federal Reserve will start hiking interest rates this year. Photo: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images Market Snapshot Stocks and bonds struggle as traders see chances of Fed rat ...

Bullion — little changed near $4,660 an ounce on Friday — is down more than 7% this week, the most since March 2020. Soaring crude, natural gas and fuel prices triggered by the conflict are raising ETMarkets.comThe metal — widely viewed as a haven — has dropped every week since the US and Israel attacked Iran last month. The retreat has come as Treasury yields and the US dollar gained ground, investors sold bullion to cover losses elsewhere, and gold-backed exchange-traded funds posted outflows, with glob ...

Gold Falls as Iran War Clouds Rate OutlookCONCLUDEDStock Market News From March 19, 2026: Why the Dow Pared LossesLast Updated:15 hours agoGold Falls as Iran War Clouds Rate OutlookByGiulia Petroni, Dow Jones NewswiresGold prices plunged below $4,800 a troy ounce, pressured by a stronger dollar and dimming hopes for further interest-rate cuts in the near term.In early European trading, futures fell 2.9% to $4,755 an ounce, while the U.S. dollar index was up 0.1% to 100.18, making dollar-denominated commodit ...

For Federal Reserve policymakers, the Iran War creates a familiar but uncomfortable dilemma: inflation risks driven by energy shocks at the same time economic growth may be weakening. If oil prices remain elevated and supply disruptions persist, Fed officials could find themselves with few viable options: holding interest rates higher to contain prices even as the job market softens. The updated forecasts or “dot plot” released after the March 17-18 meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee may offer ...

Gold Rises Ahead of Fed MeetingLIVEDow Set to Open Down as Oil Prices Jump AgainLast Updated:29 min agoGold Rises Ahead of Fed MeetingByGiulia Petroni, Dow Jones NewswiresGold prices ticked higher ahead of the Federal Reserve's policy decision this week.In early trading, futures in New York rose 0.4% to $5,025 a troy ounce, but were down more than 4% on the week as energy prices continue to dampen hopes for further interest-rate cuts."Although emergency oil stockpiles releases have helped temper price spike ...

Core Viewpoint - Gold prices have decreased by 1% due to concerns that rising energy prices may increase inflation and delay interest rate cuts in the U.S. [1] Group 1: Gold Market - Gold prices fell to $5,105.70 per troy ounce in early trading, reflecting a 1% decline [1] - The U.S. dollar index increased by 0.3% to 99.27, making dollar-denominated commodities more expensive for international buyers [1] Group 2: Oil Market - Oil prices surged above $100 per barrel as major Gulf producers began cutting output [1] - Analysts at Saxo Bank noted that the current oil price surge is due to a supply shock rather than increased demand, raising concerns about stagflation [1]

Gold slumped more than 6%, weighed down by a stronger dollar, the prospect of less monetary easing and forced selling tied to an equities rout amid an escalating Middle East conflict. A gauge of the greenback rallied this week while bond yields advanced as traders scaled back their bets on the scope of interest-rate cuts by the Federal Reserve. Inflationary risks from surging energy prices as the Iran war intensifies may force the Fed and its global peers to hold rates steady or even hike them. Most Rea ...

Core Insights - The SCCM Enhanced Equity Income Fund reported a 2.0% net return for Q4 and a 7.5% net return for the year, underperforming its primary benchmark, the S&P 500 Buy/Write Index, which returned 6.5% and 8.9% respectively [1] - The strategy's performance was impacted by a lack of investor interest in high-dividend and low-volatility stocks, as well as limited sector expansion in the equity market [1] - A positive economic outlook for 2026 is anticipated, driven by factors such as Federal Reserve interest-rate cuts, tax reductions, and potential lower tariffs [1] Company Insights: Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) - Union Pacific Corporation is one of North America's largest Class I railroads, operating a network that connects key ports and industrial hubs across the western U.S. [2][3] - The company has a market capitalization of $157.237 billion, with a stock price of $264.98 per share as of February 27, 2026 [2] - Union Pacific's stock has shown a one-month return of 12.65% and a 52-week gain of 7.80% [2] - The company benefits from a structurally advantaged network, strong pricing power, and margin potential, supported by its exposure to intermodal, industrial, and agricultural markets [3] - A proposed merger with Norfolk Southern is seen as a key catalyst for revenue synergies and cost efficiencies, which could enhance earnings growth [3] - Union Pacific is expected to improve its operating ratio through labor productivity gains and network efficiency initiatives, while also providing capital returns due to robust free cash flow generation [3] - The stock trades at 18x forward earnings and offers a 2.4% dividend yield, indicating an attractive investment outlook [3]

Core Viewpoint - Rising oil prices due to increasing tensions with Iran are diminishing the justification for further interest-rate cuts by the Federal Reserve [1] Group 1 - The Federal Reserve's rationale for additional interest-rate cuts is weakening as oil prices increase [1]

Core Insights - The Supreme Court's ruling has led to a rise in shares of consumer-oriented companies, as many of the Trump administration's tariffs were struck down [1][5] - The immediate market reaction has been positive, with the S&P 500's consumer discretionary sector increasing nearly 1%, benefiting companies like Amazon.com, Tapestry, and Williams-Sonoma [2][3] - The ruling may also influence future Federal Reserve interest rate decisions, as lower tariffs could reduce inflationary pressures [4] Company and Industry Impact - Consumer discretionary stocks have seen significant gains following the tariff ruling, indicating a positive market sentiment towards these companies [5] - The industrials sector also experienced an uptick, with notable increases in stocks such as Comfort Systems and GE Aerospace, alongside a 3% rise in Stellantis [3] - Market fluctuations were observed, with Big Tech stocks also climbing as investors reacted to economic growth and inflation data [3]