Market News

Headlines:

• Oil price surge sees momentum being tested, are markets too complacent?
• Iraq-Turkey Pipeline (ITP) to resume at a rate of 250,000 barrels to start with
• Equities continue to put up a strong front this week, at least for now
• Fed preview: the central bank will avoid scaring markets and keep the status quo
• BoC preview: interest rates to remain unchanged; cautious approach amid US-Iran war
• BoJ preview: no changes expected amid lack of inflation progress and geopolitical risk
• Eurozone February final CPI +1.9% vs +1.9% y/y prelim

Markets:

• WTI crude oil down 0.7% to $95.30
• USD and major FX little changed
• European indices sit higher but early gains reduced, S&P 500 futures up 0.3%
• US 10-year yields down 1.3 bps to 4.19%
• Gold drops down 1.1% to…

•  Asian Stock Markets : Nikkei up 2.56%, Shanghai Composite down 0.40% Hang Seng down 0.15% ASX up 0.39%
• Commodities : Gold at $4,977.44 (-0.22%) Silver at $78.868 (-1.36%), Brent Oil at $101.82 (-1.53%), WTI Oil at $93.33 (-2.32%)
• Rates : US 10-year yield at 4.179, UK 10-year yield at 4.6950, Germany 10-year yield at 2.9028

• (USD) Pending Home Sales m/m  1.8%  to -0.6%  expected

Asia-Pacific markets traded higher on Wednesday, led by strong gains in South Korea, as investors monitored Japan’s latest trade data and looked ahead to the U.S. Federal Reserve’s interest rate decision. Market expectations point to the Fed holding rates steady within the 3.5%–3.75%…

• Prior +1.7%
• Core CPI +2.4% vs +2.4% y/y prelim
• Prior +2.2%

No changes to the initial estimates with the country breakdown seen below. The main sticking point remains services inflation, which is seen at 3.4% in February. That is up slightly from 3.2% in January, reaffirming more stubborn price pressures in general. Food price inflation was also elevated at 2.5% and has been keeping thereabouts since October last year.

The mix of the two is what is still keeping the ECB very much guarded, even before the latest energy price (natural gas especially) surge in Europe amid the US-Iran conflict. The latest development has now even tilted the balance of the scales in favour of a rate hike for later this year.

For now, the ECB is still dismissing that…

IC Markets Global – Europe Fundamental Forecast | 18 March 2026

What happened in the Asia session?

Today’s Asia session featured hangover effects from the RBA’s hawkish 25bps rate hike to 4.1% (announced March 17), BOJ policy start with steady rates expected, and elevated oil prices over $100/bbl from Middle East tensions, driving volatility in AUD/USD, USD/JPY, crude futures, and gold these instruments saw the sharpest moves as traders weighed inflation risks against growth slowdowns.

What does it mean for the Europe & US sessions?

Escalating Middle East tensions are driving oil prices above $100 per barrel, as Iran’s actions in the Strait of Hormuz and U.S. military responses heighten supply disruption risks and inflation concerns…

IC Markets Global – Europe Fundamental Forecast | 18 March 2026

What happened in the Asia session?

Today’s Asia session featured hangover effects from the RBA’s hawkish 25bps rate hike to 4.1% (announced March 17), BOJ policy start with steady rates expected, and elevated oil prices over $100/bbl from Middle East tensions, driving volatility in AUD/USD, USD/JPY, crude futures, and gold these instruments saw the sharpest moves as traders weighed inflation risks against growth slowdowns.

What does it mean for the Europe & US sessions?

Escalating Middle East tensions are driving oil prices above $100 per barrel, as Iran’s actions in the Strait of Hormuz and U.S. military responses heighten supply disruption risks and inflation concerns…

US Stocks Rise Ahead of Fed – Nasdaq up 0.5%
US equity markets edged higher overnight, with investors briefly shifting their focus away from ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East to position ahead of the upcoming policy decision from the Federal Reserve. Gains across the major indices were modest, with the Dow Jones rising 0.10% to 46,993, the S&P 500 adding 0.25% to 6,716, and the Nasdaq outperforming with a 0.47% advance to 22,479. In currency markets, the US dollar continued to soften, with the DXY slipping 0.25% to 99.58. Bond markets reflected a degree of indecision, with the 2-year Treasury yield ticking up 0.3 basis points to 3.674%, while the 10-year yield eased 1.8 basis points to 4.198%, suggesting a modest flattening…

IC Markets Global – Asia Fundamental Forecast | 18 March 2026

What happened in the U.S. session?

The FOMC held rates unchanged at 3.50-3.75% with a hawkish tilt on inflation amid Middle East oil shocks, while February PPI printed 2.9% YoY as expected but underscored sticky wholesale prices prompting DXY strength, oil futures swung around $100/barrel, and softer S&P 500/Nasdaq futures as 2026 rate-cut bets evaporated.

What does it mean for the Asia Session?

Geopolitical risks in the Middle East dominate, fueling oil spikes and USD strength, while RBA policy, China’s solid industrial rebound, and selective equity gains in tech/AI (e.g., Softbank, Nvidia) shape a volatile Asia session that traders should prioritize oil, AUD crosses, and…

NQ analysis: order flow points to a bullish repair, but not a runaway breakout

Nasdaq price prediction today leans bullish, with a market bias score of +5.8 at investingLive.co, as order flow improves and the Point of Control shifts higher. The recovery looks real, but this still needs to prove it can turn into a lasting trend rather than just a sharp repair move.

The financial markets are currently humming with a renewed sense of optimism, offering a melodic blend of recovery and high-tech ambition. Investors are finding a rhythmic beat in the recent US major indices closing higher, a move fueled significantly by a resurgence in small-cap stocks that suggests a broadening of market breadth. This upward swing is harmonizing perfectly with…

• Barclays flags strongest stock buy signal in a year as sentiment resets
• Fed set to hold as Deutsche Bank flags geopolitics clouding outlook
• China approves Nvidia H200 AI chip sales as licences granted to multiple firms
• China firms ramp up FX hedging as yuan strength threatens export earnings
• PBOC sets USD/ CNY mid-point today at 6.8909 (vs. estimate at 6.8798)
• India is working with Iran to secure safe passage for key fuel shipments through Hormuz,
• Projectile strikes near Iran’s Bushehr nuclear plant, no damage reported
• Japan exports beat forecasts but lose momentum from prior surge
• Australia leading index steady. Growth outlook softens to below trend on rate hikes & war
• Japan firms set for strong wage hikes as labour shortages persist, outlook…