Wall Street end in green after Fed reiterates forecasts for more rate cuts in 2025

Wall Street indices have witnessed turbulence in recent months.

Benchmark indices in the US ended with solid gains on March 18 after the Federal Reserve delivered right along expectations, keeping interest rates steady. The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) also reaffirmed its forecast for rate cuts later in 2025.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.9 percent. The S&P 500 gained 1.1 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite climbed 1.4 percent.

The Fed’s decision to keep the federal funds rate at 4.25 percent to 4.50 percent was widely anticipated, but policymakers reiterated their expectation of two rate cuts this year, acknowledging increased uncertainty in the economic outlook.

Meanwhile, Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s commentary on economic conditions amid escalating trade tensions will also be closely scrutinised.

The market rally comes after a volatile Tuesday session, where a renewed sell-off erased gains from the previous two days. The Dow dropped 0.6 percent, the S&P 500 fell 1 percent, and the Nasdaq tumbled 1.7 percent. The broad-market index now sits 8.6 percent below its February record high, while the Nasdaq remains in correction territory, down more than 10 percent from its recent peak.

Investors continue to navigate soft economic data and ongoing uncertainty surrounding President Donald Trump’s trade policies, both of which have contributed to recent market turbulence. As Powell takes center stage, traders will closely monitor his remarks on inflation, economic growth, and the Fed’s policy trajectory.

Shares of Autodesk climbed nearly 4 percent after Starboard Value announced plans to launch a proxy fight, intending to nominate a minority slate of director candidates ahead of the company’s upcoming annual meeting.

MicroStrategy, now rebranded as Strategy, rose 5.2 percent after revealing plans to issue more securities to fund cryptocurrency purchases, reinforcing its position as the largest corporate holder of bitcoin.

Meanwhile, Boeing saw its shares surge 6.3 percent following upbeat commentary from Chief Financial Officer Brian West at an investor conference, where he highlighted easing cash burn and improving factory operations. West also downplayed concerns over Trump’s tariffs, stating that any impact would depend on how long the uncertainty lasts.

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