Mitesh Patel · Mar 18, 2026 · 3 min read
Wednesday, March 18, 2026 Published pre-market | Data as of approximately 8:00 AM ET
It’s Fed Day — and a hot PPI print just made Powell’s press conference even more consequential. Futures initially pointed higher on Nvidia GTC momentum, but reversed after February’s Producer Price Index came in at +0.7% MoM, more than double the 0.3% consensus.
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Stock futures are slightly higher with September inflation data due at 8:30 a.m., Brent crude above $106 on Middle East supply fears, and Bank of America, Morgan Stanley and BlackRock reporting.
Nasdaq futures slip as a chip selloff deepens in Asia, while the Dow rises on a busy morning of results from JPMorgan, Goldman Sachs, UnitedHealth and other big names.
Stock futures are little changed near record highs as Middle East attacks lift crude, with the bond market closed for Columbus Day and bank earnings starting Tuesday.