US Stocks Rise Slightly Amid Oil Price Surge
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 0.25%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average increased by 0.10%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index climbed by 0.51%, reflecting strong performances from chipmakers and travel stocks, despite signs of a slowdown in hiring impacting market sentiment.
- Oil Price Surge: WTI crude oil prices jumped over 2% due to renewed Iranian attacks on key energy infrastructure, leading to expectations of an 8 million bpd reduction in global oil supply this month, which adds to market uncertainty and inflation concerns.
- Fed Policy Expectations: The market anticipates that the Federal Reserve will keep the federal funds target range unchanged at the upcoming FOMC meeting, even as the core PCE price index remains above target levels, indicating persistent inflationary pressures.
- Airline Stock Recovery: Delta Air Lines saw its stock rise over 6% after raising its Q1 revenue forecast, indicating signs of recovery in the airline sector amid rising fuel costs, with travel and hotel stocks also benefiting from increased bookings.
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.
