Three major U.S. indexes declined on Wednesday, March 18, after oil rose in price due to Iran's new threats to the oil infrastructure of neighboring countries. The cost of Brent jumped 6% in trading and approached $110. The U.S. Federal Reserve kept its key rate at the current level and said that "the implications of events in the Middle East for the economy remain uncertain" and the sustainability of inflation could prevent rate cuts.

Dow at its lowest since November, Brent close to $110, Fed warning: results of the 19th day of war

Saudi Aramco Base Oil Company - Luberef

Saudi Arabia was able to restore more than half of its oil exports by redirecting some supplies from the blocked Persian Gulf to the west - to the Red Sea coast. At the same time, the country quickly formed a fleet of tankers headed there to load oil. Now the ships are piling up at the port, Bloomberg <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-03-18/saudi-arabia-has-revived-half-its-oil-exports-via-hormuz-bypass">reports</a>.

Saudi Arabia restored half of its oil exports bypassing the Strait of Hormuz

The US Federal Reserve will not cut interest rates unless it sees progress on inflation this year, Fed Chairman Jerome Powell said. However, he himself expects a slowdown in inflation to become noticeable by the middle of the year as the effect of duties diminishes. U.S. stocks accelerated their decline on the back of Powell's press conference - after an unexpectedly high rise in wholesale prices and the Fed's decision to leave the rate unchanged.

Powell ruled out a rate cut without progress on inflation. Stocks accelerated their decline

It was the regulator's penultimate meeting before Jerome Powell steps down as chairman

The Fed has kept the rate unchanged for the second time in a row. Prospects for a rate cut are in doubt

The probability of recession in the United States is growing amid a jump in oil prices, which could trigger an inflationary spiral, says economist and former chief investment officer of PIMCO Mohammed El-Erian. His opinion is <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/recession-outlook-mohamed-el-erian-oil-prices-inflation-economy-markets-2026-3">published by</a> BusinessInsider.

'Oil is just one factor': why has an economist raised the risk of a US recession?

Delta Air Lines, Inc.

American Airlines Group Inc.

Qantas Airways Limited

Air France-KLM SA

Scandinavian airline SAS has announced that it will cut about 1,000 flights in March-April amid a sharp rise in jet fuel prices. SAS emphasized that this is only a small fraction of the more than 5,000 flights the company operates weekly, Swedish business daily Dagens Industri <a href="https://www.di.se/nyheter/sas-vd-staller-in-tusen-avgangar-i-april/">reported</a>.

Europe's first major airline cancels hundreds of flights due to fuel price spike

Associated Banc-Corp

Century Communities, Inc.

Choice Hotels International, Inc.

Primo Brands Corporation

Columbia Sportswear Company

Barron’s has <a href="https://www.barrons.com/articles/small-cap-value-fund-crushing-peers-f3b098da?mod=RTA">highlighted</a>&nbsp;five stocks held by Heartland Value, a fund focused on investing in small-cap companies. The fund delivered a 30.8% one-year return, compared with 25.4% for the Russell 2000 Value index. Morningstar has ranked Heartland Value among the top 4% of funds in its category based on that performance.

Five holdings of outperforming small-cap value fund Heartland 


U.S. President Donald Trump on March 18 suspended the centennial Jones Act, which requires the transportation of cargo between U.S. ports exclusively on ships built in the U.S., Bloomberg <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-03-18/trump-waives-us-shipping-law-for-oil-and-gas-amid-iran-war">reported</a> citing sources. Information in the White House <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/18/trump-jones-act-oil-iran-war.html">confirmed to</a> CNBC. The measure is aimed at cheapening the transportation of oil, gas and other goods inside the country and should help contain the growth of energy prices amid the war with Iran.

Trump suspended a century-old shipping law. Oil soared to $109

Emaar Properties PJSC

Emaar Development PJSC

Aldar Properties PJSC

J.P. Morgan analysts see downside potential for shares of key UAE developers

Drones and deals: should we wait for discounts on the real estate market in Dubai

Major U.S. stock indices opened in the negative zone on March 18. Brent oil jumped to $108 per barrel after Iran's statements about Israeli strikes on an Iranian gas field, as well as after the data on wholesale inflation in the U.S. was higher than expected, Bloomberg <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-03-18/us-stock-futures-extend-rally-ahead-of-fed-rate-decision">writes.</a>

U.S. stocks down, oil down $108 - after Israeli attack on Iran gas field

Swarmer, a small-cap developer of drone software, saw its shares soar 520% on Tuesday, the first day after its IPO. Against a backdrop of rising geopolitical tensions and increased military spending globally, investors have turned their attention to the defense segment, Bloomberg <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-03-17/ai-drone-software-stock-jumps-700-in-best-ipo-since-newsmax">notes</a>.