News Bulletin
Friday, September 18, 2026
Morning Edition

Economic Numbers:

Time	Event	Actual	Forecast	Previous
Friday, September 18, 2026
10:00	US Leading Index (MoM) (Aug)		0.10%	0.20%
13:00	U.S. Baker Hughes Oil Rig Count			450.00
13:00	U.S. Baker Hughes Total Rig Count			591.00

Indices

	CLOSE	50 DMA	200 DMA
DJIA	51,778.04	52,897.70	50,080.95
NASDAQ	26,418.30	26,065.26	24,536.97
S&P 500	7,637.76	7,615.10	7,177.71

Earnings Calendar:

(EPS: Earning Per Share / Rev: Revenue / Mkt Cap: market Capital/ BMO: Before Market Opening /AMC: After Market Close)

COMPANY	EPS Act	EPS Fore	Rev Act	Rev Fore	Mkt Cap	Time
FedExFDX:US	-	-	-	-	$77.83B	PM

Market News:

U.S. stock index futures edged broadly higher on Friday, following a rally in stocks in the wake of a Federal Reserve interest rate hike on Wednesday.

By 06:09 ET (10:09 GMT), the Dow futures contract was mostly unchanged, S&P 500 futures had gained 11 points, or 0.1%, and Nasdaq 100 futures had advanced by 108 points, or 0.4%.

The main averages on Wall Street popped in the prior session, with the benchmark S&P 500 and tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite rising by roughly 1.1% and 1.7%, respectively. The blue-chip Dow Jones Industrial Average, meanwhile, ticked up by 0.6%.

Although elevated interest rates can dent the appeal of stocks, many investors interpreted the Fed’s hawkish decision this week as an indication of the central bank’s commitment to corralling energy-fueled inflation pressures -- as well as proof of its independence, which has come under question as President Donald Trump frequently requests dramatic rate reductions to boost the economy.

Traders were now assessing a decision from the Bank of Japan to lift interest rates to a 31-year high on Friday. It was the central bank’s second increase this year and the sixth since March 2024.

"The move follows on from the Fed’s hike on Wednesday, and the ECB’s hike last week, which leaves us in little doubt we’re in a globally synchronised cycle of rate hikes again, with more likely ahead from all three," analysts at Deutsche Bank said in a note.

Wall St encouraged by easing oil prices

The analysts argued that oil price movements have also been one of the main drivers of stocks this week. Worries have abounded that elevated crude prices will spark a prolonged period of energy-fueled inflation, further bolstering the case for a central bank tightening cycle.

Oil prices fell for a third straight session on Friday as expectations that Middle Eastern producers could restore disrupted supplies offset concerns over a widening regional conflict.

The declines came despite fresh fighting between Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis, which has added another layer of risk to oil supplies in a conflict that has already disrupted shipments through the Strait of Hormuz. Critically, gains by the Houthis in western Yemen have given the group increased leverage over the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which, along with Hormuz, is relied on by Saudi Arabia to ship oil out to global markets.

The Bab el-Mandeb links the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden, while Hormuz is located off Iran’s southern coast.

Investors have focused on hopes that Saudi Arabia could soon partially restore flows through its key east-west pipeline, which was damaged in drone attacks last week. The pipeline normally transports crude to Yanbu on Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast. According to Bloomberg News, Saudi Arabia is seeking to restore about half of the pipeline’s capacity within days, compared to earlier reports that it could take weeks to come back online.

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