Articles about Markets

• U.S. stock markets closed lower Thursday as an energy shock continued weighing on investor sentiment, with the S&P 500 falling 0.27%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropping 0.44%, and the Nasdaq Composite declining 0.28%. • Commodity-linked stocks experienced severe selloffs: gold fell 4.94%, aluminum dropped over 5%, mining shares plummeted with Hycroft Mining sliding 12.4% and Century Aluminum falling 10.3%. • Asian markets showed mixed performance Friday, with South Korea's Kospi rising 0.6% and China's Shanghai Composite edging 0.2% higher, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng slipped 0.6%, Australia's S&P/ASX 200 fell 0.5%, and Taiwan's Taiex declined 0.2%, with Japan's markets closed for a holiday.

• Nvidia held its annual GTC technology conference on Monday, March 16, with CEO Jensen Huang delivering the keynote address amid broader market volatility tied to geopolitical tensions and oil price fluctuations. • The event timing coincides with elevated uncertainty in tech stocks, as investors reassess earnings estimates downward and monitor the impact of elevated oil prices on corporate profitability and consumer spending. • Tech sector performance remains sensitive to macroeconomic headwinds, including potential inflation from energy costs and Federal Reserve policy decisions expected this week.

• US financial markets face 'peak war panic' in 1-3 weeks amid US-Iran conflict entering its third week, with Strait of Hormuz effectively closed and oil prices at risk of hitting $200/bbl in 2026. • S&P 500 is down only 3% year-to-date and 5% from all-time high, indicating investors not yet panicking despite US attacks on Iran's Kharg Island oil terminal and deployment of 2,500 Marines to Mideast. • Escalation includes Iran targeting civilian infrastructure in Gulf neighbors and threatening major ports, potentially spilling over to agricultural commodities and semiconductors via shortages in fertilizer and helium.

• The S&P 500 declined 1.6% for its third consecutive weekly loss, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 2% and the NASDAQ shed 1.3% as geopolitical tensions and surging oil prices created broad selling pressure across all major indices. • Investors face a critical week ahead with the NVIDIA GTC conference (the "AI Oscars") scheduled alongside the Federal Reserve's FOMC interest rate decision on Wednesday and jobless claims data on Thursday. • Persistent inflation has dramatically shifted market expectations, with traders pricing in just a 33% probability of a June rate cut compared to 57% one month ago, reflecting heightened uncertainty about the Fed's monetary policy path.

A judge rejected subpoenas targeting Fed Chair Jerome Powell on March 13, 2026, preventing potential disruptions during a tense market session as indexes fell. The decision came amid broader equity declines, with S&P 500 down 0.5% and Nasdaq off 0.67% in afternoon trading. This ruling stabilizes central bank communications at a critical juncture for monetary policy amid inflation pressures. Markets may now focus on upcoming PCE data releases without subpoena overhang.