US Stocks Rise Amid Oil Price Surge and Economic Data
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Mar 17 2026
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Source: NASDAQ.COM
- Market Performance: The S&P 500 Index rose by 0.64%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average increased by 0.59%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index climbed by 0.80%, indicating strong support from chipmakers and travel stocks, reflecting investor confidence in economic recovery.
- Employment Data Impact: The ADP report revealed an increase of only 9,000 jobs in February, the smallest gain in five weeks, signaling a slowdown in hiring by US employers, which contributed to a 2 basis point drop in the 10-year T-note yield to 4.20%, providing support for stocks.
- Oil Price Volatility: WTI crude oil prices surged over 1% due to Iranian attacks on key energy infrastructure in the Middle East, with the IEA warning that the conflict could disrupt global oil supply by 8 million barrels per day, further driving up prices.
- Fed Policy Expectations: The market widely anticipates that the Federal Reserve will keep interest rates unchanged at the upcoming FOMC meeting, despite the core PCE price index exceeding target levels, indicating persistent inflation pressures that may influence future monetary policy.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
