Wall Street ends up as traders turn to Fed

Wall Street ends up as traders turn to Fed

By Noel Randewich and Johann M Cherian

Tue March 17, 2026

For no particular reason, all the indexes closed the day with modest gains except for tech which had a pretty good up day. But the day didn’t start that way with them all way up in the morning, the Dow almost 500. All the usual problems remain with the one positive being that Wall Street is betting on now one more rate cut near the end of the year (up from zero a couple days ago) and that tomorrow’s Fed announcement will bring more clarity on inflation.  

Wall Street ends higher as traders return to AI stocks

Wall Street ends higher as traders return to AI stocks

By Noel Randewich and Johann M Cherian

Mon March 16, 2026

AI is once again today the darling of Wall Street with Meta planning to lay off 20% of its workers on the basis that AI will assist the remaining 80% to work more efficiently, thereby lending more credence in the future profitability of the technology. All three indexes zoomed straight up right out the gate a substantial 3-digits and stayed there all day. Major AI players saw a good boost. Investors also acted on news reports from Washington that Iranian, Indian, and Chinese tankers would soon be moving through the Strait of Hormuz, which dropped oil prices a bit but is also in direct contradiction to statements made by Iran last week.

Wall Street closes lower, posts weekly loss as war on Iran fuels inflation worries

Wall Street closes lower, posts weekly loss as war on Iran fuels inflation worries

By Stephen Culp and Johann M Cherian

Fri March 13, 2026 

All the indexes started in the green, the Dow up some 450 at the outset, but the bad news started pouring in from the boatload of data that was expected today. At least it was a steady rather than chaotic decline on all fronts well into the red by the end of the day with tech getting the brunt of it. 

Wall St ends sharply lower as intensifying Iran war, soaring crude prompt selloff

Wall St ends sharply lower as intensifying Iran war, soaring crude prompt selloff

By Stephen Culp and Johann M Cherian

Thu March 12, 2026  

Today was the worst yet. No bouncing back and forth, just straight down. With the strikes on the two oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, hopes of a quick end to the war were also struck down. There were no positives in the tug-of-war, just the war making everyone flee equities for safer havens and all the indexes dropping dramatically right at the outset and staying there all day.  

S&P 500, Dow end lower as escalating Iran war sours risk appetite

S&P 500, Dow end lower as escalating Iran war sours risk appetite

By Stephen Culp and Johann M Cherian

Wed March 11, 2026  

In a day of extraordinarily volatile trading, investors were in a tug-of-war between the bad news of oil supply concerns and subsequent rapidly spiking energy prices as well as Iran’s continuing attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz. The flip side of the tug-of-war was the good news of OPEC’s promise today that oil production was being ramped up and exports would continue. The Dow swung wildly hitting a low of more than 600 down by noon but closing at a minus 289, with the Nasdaq also swinging between a high of +180 around 10 a.m. and a low of a -95 around 1:30 pm. 

Wall St closes mixed on ramped-up Middle East tensions

Wall St closes mixed on ramped-up Middle East tensions

By Stephen Culp and Johann M Cherian

Tue March 10, 2026  

They called it a parabolic move today starting deeply in the red as the fighting in Iran was said to be at its most intense, then moved up swiftly on more optimism the war could end soon, then fell just as swiftly as investors once again got a reality check that a quick resolution was probably not coming. All three indexes zoomed straight up to big gains only to collapse at around 1:30 and close nearly flat. The Dow was down some 300 at 10 a.m. and up nearly 500 by 1:30, an 800-point swing.  The Navy said no escorts for tankers in the Strait of Hormuz and the news of Iran laying mines in the strait hastened the market’s decline.  

Wall St ends higher as hopes of Iran war resolution offset inflation fears

Wall St ends higher as hopes of Iran war resolution offset inflation fears

By Stephen Culp and Johann M Cherian

Mon March 9, 2026

Early in the day, another surge in oil prices combined with Iran’s selection of the slain supreme leader’s son to succeed him brought all three indexes crashing way down, which is where they stayed all day. The Dow was down nearly 900 in the morning, remained that way until 3:15 when it very suddenly spurted way up again. Same with the Nasdaq, down about 330 in the morning, then shot straight up right at about 3:15, the S&P following a very similar pattern, down over 100 in the morning. It must have been right around 3 pm that Trump made the dual announcements that the war plans were way ahead of the previously stated five week schedule and could be over very soon.