Canada's main stock index opened lower on Wednesday, pressured by broad declines as oil prices rose, while investors awaited interest rate decisions from the Bank of Canada and the U.S. Federal Reserve. At 09:30 a.m. ET, the S&P/TSX composite index was down 0.9% at 32,626.16 points.
Wall Street's main indexes opened lower on Wednesday after data showed producer prices rose more than expected in February, prompting investors to price out any expectations for an interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve this year.
The Bank of Canada is widely expected at Wednesday's policy decision due shortly to keep its policy rate unchanged at 2.25%, the low end of the neutral range, says Societe Generale. The shock decline in employment and drop of the headline consumer price index to 1.8% year over year in February won't compel the BoC to change its view, writes SocGen.
The broad market exchange-traded fund SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust was down 0.3% and the actively traded Invesco QQQ Trust was 0.3% lower in Wednesday's premarket activity, ahead of key economic data to be released later in the day, followed by the Federal Open Market Committee's latest monetary policy decision.
* Israel strikes central Beirut as war expands. * Fed likely to hold rates steady as Iran war shocks policy debate. * US producer prices surge in February. By Ashitha Shivaprasad.
?Stage is set for the most buyer-friendly spring market in years, says Chief Economist Mark Fleming? First American Data & Analytics, a leading national provider of property-centric information, risk management and valuation solutions and a division of First American Financial Corporation (FAF), today released its February 2026 Home Price Index report.
The US Producer Price Index rose by 0.7% in February following a 0.5% increase in January, above the 0.3% gain expected in a survey compiled by Bloomberg as of 8:15 am ET. Energy prices jumped by 2.3% in the month, while food prices rebounded by 2.4%. After excluding food and energy prices, core PPI increased by 0.5%, above the 0.3% gain expected, but slower than a 0.8% gain in the previous month.
Futures tracking Wall Street's main indexes slipped on Wednesday after data showed producer prices rose more than expected in February, dampening expectations that the Federal Reserve will lower interest rates this year. A Labor Department report showed the Producer Price Index rose 3.4% on an annual basis in February, compared with 2.9% expected by economists polled by Reuters.
Futures tracking Wall Street's main indexes slipped on Wednesday after data showed producer prices rose more than expected in February, dampening expectations that the Federal Reserve will lower interest rates this year. A Labor Department report showed the Producer Price Index rose 3.4% on an annual basis in February, compared with 2.9% expected by economists polled by Reuters.
U.S. producer prices increased by the most in seven months in February, driven by higher costs for services and a range of goods, and could accelerate further as the war in the Middle East boosts oil prices and the pass-through from tariffs persists.
U.S. producer prices increased more than expected in February, and could accelerate further as the war in the Middle East boosts oil prices and the import pass-through persists. The Producer Price Index for final demand surged 0.7% last month, lifted by services, after an unrevised 0.5% rise in January, the Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics said on Wednesday.
Financial markets are underpricing geopolitical risks, increasing the potential for sudden sell-offs, European Central Bank supervisor Claudia Buch said on Wednesday, as she warned against easing bank regulations. The U.S. has been loosening bank rules for the past year, putting pressure on regulators elsewhere as their lenders could face an uneven playing field if they did not follow suit.
The Federal Reserve's work to manage challenges around its balance sheet is proving to be a rare island of calm as war and broader economic issues complicate the monetary policy outlook. After several months of rebuilding money-market liquidity, the Fed appears on track to moderate the pace of its renewed bout of Treasury purchases in late April, as planned.
* Tehran retaliates after Israel kills Iranian security chief. * Fed to announce interest rate decision at 1800 GMT. * Oil prices remain above $100 a barrel. By Pablo Sinha. Gold prices fell to a one-month low on Wednesday as investors weighed the risk of a more hawkish U.S. Federal Reserve policy stance, with high oil prices fuelling concerns about inflation.
The Bank of Canada will release its policy statement at 9:45 a.m. ET on Wednesday, with all economists surveyed by Bloomberg expecting an unchanged interest rate, said Commerzbank. The bank shares this assessment. However, the BoC is likely one of the few G10 central banks that could really hike rates this year, stated Commerzbank.
Nebius Group N.V. (NBIS), a leading AI infrastructure company, today announced the pricing of its offering of $4.0 billion aggregate original principal amount of convertible senior notes, in two series: $2.25 billion aggregate original principal amount of 1.250% convertible notes due 2031 and $1.75 billion aggregate original principal amount of 2.625% convertible notes due 2033, in a private offering ...
Homeowners and lenders could save nearly $1 billion over the first year of full adoption of VantageScore, according to a newly updated analysis of mortgage credit score costs published by Deep Future Analytics. The analysis was updated immediately following new competitive pricing incentives for VantageScore credit scores announced independently last week by Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.
The Bank of Canada will release its policy statement at 9:45 a.m.ET on Wednesday, followed 45 minutes later by a press conference with Governor Macklem and Senior Deputy Governor Rogers, said Bank of Montreal. The BoC is widely expected to hold rates steady at 2.25%, noted the bank.
Chile's economy expanded 0.6% in the fourth quarter from the previous three-month period, central bank data showed on Wednesday, exceeding market expectations of 0.3% growth in a Reuters poll. On an annual basis, gross domestic product grew 1.6% in the period, while economists had forecast a 1.7% expansion.
Indian government bonds fell for a fifth straight session on Wednesday, as the rupee sank to another record low, sapping risk appetite ahead of the U.S. Federal Reserve's rate decision. The local currency hit a fresh low of 92.63 per dollar, as the raging Middle East war sparked capital outflows and raised macroeconomic risks for Asia's third-largest economy.
Aluminium prices ticked up on Wednesday as an alternative export route to the Strait of Hormuz, secured by Emirates Global Aluminium amid the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, offered temporary respite to supply jitters. The benchmark three-month aluminium on the London Metal Exchange rose 0.1% to $3,402 a metric ton by 1702 GMT after hitting $3,336, the lowest since March 10.
* Euro zone bond yields fall for third day as prices rally strongly. * Energy price surge and impact on inflation in focus. * ECB and Fed expected to maintain current monetary policies. By Amanda Cooper.
* FTSE 100 up 0.3%, FTSE 250 gains 1% * Oil slide helps risk appetite even as Middle East tensions persist. * British borrowing costs fall for third consecutive day. * Diploma hits record high after raising fiscal guidance. By Tharuniyaa Lakshmi.
March 18 - What matters in U.S. and global markets today. By Mike Dolan, Editor-At-Large, Finance and Markets. Given the backdrop of war and oil price volatility, investors' focus later today will be on whether Federal Reserve officials consider the inflationary implications of the oil shock significant enough to alter their forecast for one U.S. interest rate cut this year.
By Mike Dolan. March 18 - What matters in U.S. and global markets today By Mike Dolan, Editor-At-Large, Finance and Markets. Given the backdrop of war and oil price volatility, investors' focus later today will be on whether Federal Reserve officials consider the inflationary implications of the oil shock significant enough to alter their forecast for one U.S. interest rate cut this year.
* Brent crude futures fall 0.3% to $103.13 a barrel. * STOXX 600 rises 0.6%, U.S. futures edge higher. * Fed 'dot plot' may indicate whether a rate cut this year remains. * Busy central bank calendar ahead. By Stella Qiu and Lucy Raitano.
Commerzbank in its "European Sunrise" note of Wednesday highlighted: Markets: United States Treasury yields lower across the curve, with the belly outperforming. U.S./Iran: President Donald Trump says it "won't be long" before ships can move through the Strait of Hormuz. U.S./Venezuela: The U.S. intends to ease sanctions on Venezuelan oil.
Rising concern about higher inflation from surging oil prices is not going to press the Federal Reserve into an interest rate hike this week, but the idea could still find its way to the surface at a policy meeting overshadowed by the start of the Iran conflict just over two weeks ago.
* Investors on the lookout for signs policymakers see two-sided risks to rates. * Oil price surge raises inflation fears, but also concern about jobs. * Fed's dot plot likely to show policymakers divided on rate path. By Ann Saphir.
* Bank of Canada to keep benchmark interest rates steady at 2.25% * Iran war, high oil price has changed outlook, economists say. * Money markets leaning towards rate hike by the end of the year. By Promit Mukherjee.
* Stocks gain 1.8%, FX up 0.1% * S. Africa's annual inflation slowed in February. * Dubai and Egypt's stock indexes up over 2% each. * Fed rate decision and economic outlook awaited. By Twesha Dikshit. Emerging markets stocks gained on Wednesday as a fall in crude prices aided sentiment, while investors awaited the U.S. Federal Reserve rate decision later in the day.
Bunge Global (BG) said late Tuesday its Bunge Limited Finance unit priced a public offering of $1.2 billion in senior unsecured notes. The notes comprise of $500 million in 4.8% senior notes due 2033 and $700 million in 5.150% senior notes due 2036.
Wall Street ended sharply lower on Wednesday after the Federal Reserve held U.S. interest rates steady and projected only a single rate cut for the year as officials took stock of economic risks from surging oil prices and the U.S. and Israeli war with Iran.
* Futures up: Dow 0.57%, S&P 500 0.53%, Nasdaq 0.67% U.S. stock index futures rose on Wednesday, buoyed by a modest drop in oil prices, while jittery investors awaited an update on the monetary policy and the economy from the Federal Reserve to assess the impact of the Middle East conflict.
* Tehran retaliates after Israel kills Iranian security chief. * Fed to announce interest rate decision at 1800 GMT. * Oil prices remain above $100 a barrel. By Pablo Sinha. Gold prices ticked down on Wednesday, as investors weighed the risk of a more hawkish U.S. Federal Reserve policy stance, with high oil prices increasing concerns over renewed inflation pressures.
* Dollar index edges up in calmer trading. * Central banks set to hold interest rates amid MidEast conflict. * Traders look for comments on inflation and outlook. By Rocky Swift, Satoshi Sugiyama and Harry Robertson. The U.S. dollar inched higher on Wednesday as easing crude oil prices steadied currency markets ahead of a series of central bank meetings.
* UAE banks' stocks rise after central bank's support package. * CBUAE measures include temporary capital buffer relief. * Analysts see measures as supporting macro stability and economic confidence. By Federico Maccioni and Hadeel Al Sayegh.
* Euro zone bond yields fall ahead of Fed decision. * Energy price surge and impact on inflation in focus. * ECB and Fed expected to maintain current monetary policies. By Amanda Cooper.
European shares extended their rebound on Wednesday as retreating crude prices boosted sentiment, while investors also awaited an interest rate decision from the U.S. Federal Reserve. The pan-European benchmark STOXX 600 was up 0.5% to 605.59 points by 0810 GMT.
Aluminium fell on Wednesday as supply fears eased after Emirates Global Aluminium secured alternative export routes, following the shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz amid the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran. The most-active aluminium contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange eased 0.98% to close daytime trade at 24,800 yuan a metric ton.
* AI agents have potential to drive change in consumer behavior. * Alibaba ecosystem offers integration of e-commerce, logistics, AI capabilities. * Alibaba separates AI from cloud, forms Token Hub Business Group. * Wukong platform launched for enterprise automation, handling complex tasks with AI agents. By Casey Hall.
Central banks have good reason to sit up and take notice of how this month's oil shock is hitting inflation expectations. The core debate in a week packed with major monetary policy meetings is whether an inflation spurt warrants interest rate rises - or whether central banks should treat the Iran-related energy supply shock as temporary and focus instead on its parallel drag on demand.
By Joachim Klement. Markets on edge about the Iran-war-driven oil shock are extrapolating today's stress far into the future - and may thus be badly misjudging how dovish the Federal Reserve will be this year.
By Junko Fujita. Japanese government bond yields extended early declines on Wednesday, as easing oil prices supported bond buying, with focus shifting to the Bank of Japan's commentary later this week on the impact of the Middle East war.
* Dollar index falls for third session amid easing oil prices. * Central banks set to hold interest rates amid Mid-East conflict. * Japan PM set to discuss investment, tariffs with Trump. By Rocky Swift and Satoshi Sugiyama. TOKYO, March 18 - The U.S. dollar lost ground on Wednesday as easing crude oil prices allowed for a glimmer of risk appetite ahead of a slate of central bank policy meetings.
A look at the day ahead in European and global markets from Stella Qiu. A small pullback in oil prices was apparently all it took to get markets back in the risk-on party mood. It is a brave trade that will be tested when the Federal Reserve delivers its policy decision and, just as importantly, its updated "dot plot" projections.
In general the bond market is volatile, and fixed income securities carry interest rate risk. (As interest rates rise, bond prices usually fall, and vice versa. This effect is usually more pronounced for longer-term securities.) Fixed income securities also carry inflation risk and credit and default risks for both issuers and counterparties. Unlike individual bonds, most bond funds do not have a maturity date, so avoiding losses caused by price volatility by holding them until maturity is not possible.
Lower-quality debt securities generally offer higher yields, but also involve greater risk of default or price changes due to potential changes in the credit quality of the issuer. Any fixed income security sold or redeemed prior to maturity may be subject to loss.
Before investing, consider the funds' investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses. Contact Fidelity for a prospectus or, if available, a summary prospectus containing this information. Read it carefully.
Log In Required
Publication Date