2026.03.1720:15:46UTC+00US Stocks Gain for 2nd Session

US equity indices closed higher on Tuesday, extending last week’s rebound from four‑month lows on renewed optimism that the halt in Persian Gulf energy exports will not trigger stagflation. The S&P 500 rose 0.3%, the Nasdaq 100 gained 0.5%, and the Dow added a more modest 0.1%.

US and allied strikes in Iran and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region reinforced expectations that disruptions to energy exports are likely to persist for now. Even so, equity investors remained optimistic about corporate earnings prospects.

Asset managers rallied as traders reassessed the risk of defaults on large private‑sector loans to the software industry. Shares of KKR, Blackstone, BlackRock, and Blue Owl climbed between 3% and 5%.

In contrast, Nvidia slipped 0.7% despite projecting $1 trillion in AI chip revenue by 2027. Qualcomm advanced 3% after announcing a dividend increase and a $20 billion share repurchase program.

The Federal Reserve is expected to leave interest rates unchanged at tomorrow’s meeting. The Summary of Economic Projections is likely to show a wide range of forecasts, reflecting uncertainty over the economic impact of higher energy prices.