US Equity Markets Lower After Economic Data, Rising Oil Prices

04:12 PM EDT, 03/18/2026 (MT Newswires) -- US equity indexes closed lower on Wednesday after economic data pointed to persistent inflation, while oil prices rose.

* US producer price index for final demand increased 0.7% in February, up from 0.5% in January, and above the 0.3% forecast by analysts polled by Bloomberg.

* For the week ended March 13, US mortgage applications fell 10.9%, compared with a 3.2% growth in the week earlier, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association's weekly mortgage applications survey.

* According to the US Energy Information Administration, inventories of total US commercial crude oil stocks for the week ended March 13 rose by nearly 6.2 million barrels, compared with 3.8 million in the week earlier, and higher than the 1.5 million drop expected by analysts polled by Bloomberg.

* April West Texas Intermediate crude oil rose $1.99 to settle at $98.20 per barrel, while May Brent crude, the global benchmark, was last seen up $5.96 at $109.38.

* LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) shares were up about 6% after UBS upgraded its rating for the company's stock to neutral from sell, with a $73 price target.

* Trade Desk (TTD) shares fell more than 6% after the company saw rating downgrades from Stifel and Rosenblatt.

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