Australia Bans Card Payment Surcharges Starting October 2025 
Canada's Economy Grows Modestly in January 2025, Driven by Energy and Construction 
Bessent: Global Oil Market Well Supplied as U.S. Eyes Hormuz Navigation Control 
Bank of Korea Nominee Shin Hyun-song Calls for Flexible Monetary Policy Amid Iran War Risks 
Gold Prices Inch Higher Amid U.S.-Iran War Tensions and Technical Rebound 
U.S. Stock Futures Surge After WSJ Report on Trump's Iran War Exit Strategy 
Dollar Surges to Monthly High as Middle East Conflict Rattles Global Markets 
Gold Prices Rebound in Asia Amid Iran War Ceasefire Hopes 
WTO Digital Trade Moratorium Expires Amid Stalled Negotiations 
Asian Stocks Mixed in March 2026 Amid Iran War Fears and Tech Selloff 
U.S. Stock Futures Drop as Iran War Escalates, Oil Surges Past $115 
South Korea March Exports Expected to Surge to Near Five-Year High Amid AI-Driven Chip Demand 
Oil Prices Dip as Trump Eyes Iran De-escalation, Hormuz Closure Persists 
Aluminum Prices Surge Toward Four-Year Highs After Gulf Smelter Strikes 
China Manufacturing PMI Hits 12-Month High Amid Energy Price Concerns 
Goldman Sachs Sees Value in European Real Estate Stocks Despite Sharp Selloff 
RBC Capital: European Medtech Firms Show Minimal Middle East and Energy Risk Exposure 
The S&P 500 closed higher Tuesday as tech stocks rebounded, shifting investor focus to the Federal Reserve’s policy decision. The Dow Jones rose 136 points (0.3%), while the S&P 500 gained 0.9%, and the Nasdaq surged 2%.
AI chip leader Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA) led the recovery after suffering a record $593 billion loss in market value Monday. Concerns over Chinese AI startup Deepseek disrupting U.S. AI dominance were downplayed, with analysts suggesting that cheaper AI solutions could drive broader adoption. The rally comes as big tech giants, including Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT), Meta (NASDAQ:META), Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL), and Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA), prepare to report earnings this week.
On the earnings front, General Motors (NYSE:GM) fell nearly 9% after posting a fourth-quarter loss due to China-related charges. JetBlue Airways (NASDAQ:JBLU) plunged 26% following weak revenue guidance, while Royal Caribbean (NYSE:RCL) soared 12% on strong Q4 earnings and a positive 2025 outlook. Boeing (NYSE:BA) gained 1.5% after CEO Kelly Ortberg outlined a turnaround strategy despite the company’s largest annual loss since 2020.
Investors now await the Federal Reserve’s decision, with expectations that borrowing costs will remain unchanged. The Fed previously lowered rates, bringing the benchmark rate to 4.25%-4.50%. Key economic data, including the PCE price index and Q4 GDP estimates, are also due this week.
Meanwhile, U.S. housing data showed single-family home prices rose 0.3% in November, slowing from October’s 0.5% gain, reflecting the impact of higher mortgage rates.
Markets remain focused on earnings and macroeconomic signals, with tech stocks driving optimism ahead of the Fed’s announcement.
