Key insights
- The market anticipates the Fed's interest rate decision and Powell's commentary on inflation. February's PPI data will influence the inflation narrative. Micron's earnings, driven by AI demand, are expected to be strong and will serve as a bellwether for the semiconductor and AI infrastructure sectors. Jabil's results will provide further insight into the AI supply chain.
Market Domination Overtime Host Josh Lipton previews several of the biggest stories to come tomorrow, Wednesday, March 18, including the Federal Reserve's latest interest rate decision coming out of its March FOMC meeting, inflation data in the form of February's Producer Price Index (PPI) survey, and earnings from companies like Macy's (M), Micron Technology (MU), and Five Below (FIVE).
And now for to watch Wednesday, March 18th stocks bracing for a major news day with the Fed, inflation data and key AI linked earnings all in focus.
Let's start here with the Federal Reserve. The Fed announcing its interest rate decision at Wednesday's FOMC meeting.
Wall Street widely expecting the Fed to hold rates steady.
Focus will turn to Fed Chair J. Powell's press conference and whether he signals greater confidence that inflation is cooling
or suggests the Fed still needs more data before cutting.
Yahoo Finance will begin coverage on Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. Eastern.
Ahead of the Fed's decision, we'll be getting February's producer price index.
economist forecasting headline PPI to cool to 0.3% month over month with core holding at 0.3%,
the new print helping shape the narrative around whether inflation pressures are easing.
Turning to earnings, some key retail earnings coming out on Wednesday with William Sonoma, Macy's and five below.
General Mills also rounding out the reports.
Micron announcing results for its second quarter after the market's closed, company is riding a powerful memory pricing cycle driven by AI demand,
analysts expecting the results to potentially beating consensus by a wide margin, making this a key read through for the broader semiconductor and AI infrastructure trade.
We'll also hear from Jabil, another important AI supply chain player.
The company posting Q2 results on Wednesday, analysts anticipating Jabil to post strong growth in its intelligent infrastructure segment,
tied to data centers, cloud and liquid cooling.