{"id":50020,"date":"2025-06-18T16:02:12","date_gmt":"2025-06-18T20:02:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thestockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/stock-market-today-indexes-rise-ahead-of-fed-decision-as-middle-east-tensions-continue\/50020\/"},"modified":"2025-06-18T16:02:12","modified_gmt":"2025-06-18T20:02:12","slug":"stock-market-today-indexes-rise-ahead-of-fed-decision-as-middle-east-tensions-continue","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/stock-market-today-indexes-rise-ahead-of-fed-decision-as-middle-east-tensions-continue\/50020\/","title":{"rendered":"Stock Market Today: Indexes Rise Ahead of Fed Decision as Middle East Tensions Continue"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_2 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/stock-market-today-indexes-rise-ahead-of-fed-decision-as-middle-east-tensions-continue\/50020\/#Market_Overview_at_the_Closing_Bell\" >Market Overview at the Closing Bell<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/stock-market-today-indexes-rise-ahead-of-fed-decision-as-middle-east-tensions-continue\/50020\/#Fed_Decision_in_Focus\" >Fed Decision in Focus<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/stock-market-today-indexes-rise-ahead-of-fed-decision-as-middle-east-tensions-continue\/50020\/#Housing_Data_Disappoints\" >Housing Data Disappoints<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/stock-market-today-indexes-rise-ahead-of-fed-decision-as-middle-east-tensions-continue\/50020\/#Notable_Stock_Movers\" >Notable Stock Movers<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/stock-market-today-indexes-rise-ahead-of-fed-decision-as-middle-east-tensions-continue\/50020\/#Earnings_on_Deck\" >Earnings on Deck<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/stock-market-today-indexes-rise-ahead-of-fed-decision-as-middle-east-tensions-continue\/50020\/#Looking_Ahead\" >Looking Ahead<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Market_Overview_at_the_Closing_Bell\"><\/span>Market Overview at the Closing Bell<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The major U.S. stock indexes climbed higher Wednesday as investors awaited the Federal Reserve&#8217;s latest interest rate decision while monitoring ongoing tensions in the Middle East. At the market close, the <a href=\"https:\/\/stockmarketwatch.com\/indices\/dowjones\/today\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"1\" title=\"Dow Jones Today\">Dow Jones<\/a> Industrial Average gained 258 points, or 0.6%, to finish at 42,403.03. The <a href=\"https:\/\/stockmarketwatch.com\/indices\/sp500\/today\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"3\" title=\"snp500 today\">S&#038;P 500<\/a> advanced 0.5% to 6,010.41, while the Nasdaq Composite rose 0.6% to 19,637.94.<cscitation citation_id=\"task_1__1\"><\/cscitation><cscitation citation_id=\"task_1__2\"><\/cscitation><\/p>\n<p>Markets showed resilience despite geopolitical concerns as the Israel-Iran conflict entered its sixth day. Iran&#8217;s supreme leader warned that the U.S. would face &#8220;irreparable damage&#8221; if it entered the conflict, while President Donald Trump has threatened Iran with potential military action.<cscitation citation_id=\"task_1__1\"><\/cscitation><\/p>\n<p>&#8220;The market just seems very keen to fade geopolitical risk,&#8221; Zachary Hill, head of portfolio management at Horizon Investments, told CNBC. &#8220;That has been historically the right thing to do, so I think that&#8217;s kind of what&#8217;s driving us so far today.&#8221;<cscitation citation_id=\"task_1__1\"><\/cscitation><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Fed_Decision_in_Focus\"><\/span>Fed Decision in Focus<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The Federal Reserve&#8217;s interest rate decision, scheduled for 2 p.m. ET, remains the day&#8217;s most anticipated event. The central bank is widely expected to maintain rates at the current 4.25%-4.5% range, but investors will be closely watching Fed Chair Jerome Powell&#8217;s comments and the updated &#8220;dot plot&#8221; of rate expectations.<cscitation citation_id=\"task_1__1\"><\/cscitation><cscitation citation_id=\"task_1__3\"><\/cscitation><\/p>\n<p>Money markets are currently pricing in approximately 46 basis points of rate cuts by the end of 2025, with a 56% chance of a 25-basis-point cut in September, according to CME Group&#8217;s FedWatch tool.<cscitation citation_id=\"task_1__3\"><\/cscitation><\/p>\n<p>President Trump criticized Fed Chair Powell earlier today, calling him &#8220;stupid&#8221; and expressing doubt that the central bank would cut interest rates. &#8220;Europe had 10 cuts, and we had none,&#8221; Trump remarked outside the White House.<cscitation citation_id=\"task_1__1\"><\/cscitation><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Housing_Data_Disappoints\"><\/span>Housing Data Disappoints<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Economic data released Wednesday showed new housing construction hit its lowest level in five years. Housing starts ran at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.256 million for May, down 9.8% from April and well below economists&#8217; expectations of 1.35 million. Building permits also declined more than anticipated, totaling 1.393 million, a 2% drop from the prior month.<cscitation citation_id=\"task_1__1\"><\/cscitation><\/p>\n<p>Initial unemployment claims for the week ending June 14 totaled 245,000, slightly better than the expected 246,000 and down 5,000 from the previous week.<cscitation citation_id=\"task_1__1\"><\/cscitation><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Notable_Stock_Movers\"><\/span>Notable Stock Movers<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Among today&#8217;s standout performers, Tesla (<a href=\"https:\/\/thestockmarketwatch.com\/stock\/?stock=TSLA\">TSLA<\/a>) gained 1.93%, while Intel (<a href=\"https:\/\/thestockmarketwatch.com\/stock\/?stock=INTC\">INTC<\/a>) rose 2.45%. Financial stocks showed strength with Goldman Sachs (<a href=\"https:\/\/thestockmarketwatch.com\/stock\/?stock=GS\">GS<\/a>) up 2.17% and JPMorgan Chase (<a href=\"https:\/\/thestockmarketwatch.com\/stock\/?stock=JPM\">JPM<\/a>) advancing 2.15%.<cscitation citation_id=\"task_1__2\"><\/cscitation><\/p>\n<p>On the downside, Visa (<a href=\"https:\/\/thestockmarketwatch.com\/stock\/?stock=V\">V<\/a>) fell 3.17%, while PayPal (<a href=\"https:\/\/thestockmarketwatch.com\/stock\/?stock=PYPL\">PYPL<\/a>) dropped 3.14%. Other notable decliners included Dow Inc. (<a href=\"https:\/\/thestockmarketwatch.com\/stock\/?stock=DOW\">DOW<\/a>) at -2.41% and JD.com (<a href=\"https:\/\/thestockmarketwatch.com\/stock\/?stock=JD\">JD<\/a>) at -2.20%.<cscitation citation_id=\"task_1__2\"><\/cscitation><\/p>\n<p>Circle Internet (<a href=\"https:\/\/thestockmarketwatch.com\/stock\/?stock=CRCL\">CRCL<\/a>) shares rose 1.4% after the U.S. Senate passed a bill to create a regulatory framework for stablecoins. Scholar Rock (<a href=\"https:\/\/thestockmarketwatch.com\/stock\/?stock=SRRK\">SRRK<\/a>) surged 21.9% after announcing positive results from a mid-stage trial of its experimental weight-loss drug used in combination with Eli Lilly&#8217;s (<a href=\"https:\/\/thestockmarketwatch.com\/stock\/?stock=LLY\">LLY<\/a>) treatment.<cscitation citation_id=\"task_1__3\"><\/cscitation><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Earnings_on_Deck\"><\/span>Earnings on Deck<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>After today&#8217;s market close, investors will be watching for earnings reports from Smith &#038; Wesson Brands (<a href=\"https:\/\/thestockmarketwatch.com\/stock\/?stock=SWBI\">SWBI<\/a>) and Aurora Cannabis (<a href=\"https:\/\/thestockmarketwatch.com\/stock\/?stock=ACB\">ACB<\/a>). Smith &#038; Wesson is expected to see significant post-earnings volatility, with options implying a potential move of approximately 13.06% in either direction.<cscitation citation_id=\"task_2__1\"><\/cscitation><cscitation citation_id=\"task_2__2\"><\/cscitation><\/p>\n<p>Earlier today, several companies reported results before the market opened, including Kroger (<a href=\"https:\/\/thestockmarketwatch.com\/stock\/?stock=KR\">KR<\/a>), Progressive Corp (<a href=\"https:\/\/thestockmarketwatch.com\/stock\/?stock=PGR\">PGR<\/a>), and GMS Inc (<a href=\"https:\/\/thestockmarketwatch.com\/stock\/?stock=GMS\">GMS<\/a>).<cscitation citation_id=\"task_2__1\"><\/cscitation><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Looking_Ahead\"><\/span>Looking Ahead<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Market participants will continue to monitor developments in the Middle East, with concerns that escalating tensions could potentially disrupt oil supplies. The U.S. administration is reportedly considering various options, including joining Israel in strikes against Iranian nuclear sites.<cscitation citation_id=\"task_1__3\"><\/cscitation><\/p>\n<p>The CBOE Volatility Index, often referred to as the market&#8217;s &#8220;fear gauge,&#8221; fell 0.93% to 20.67 points today, suggesting some easing of investor anxiety despite ongoing geopolitical concerns.<cscitation citation_id=\"task_1__2\"><\/cscitation><\/p>\n<p>As markets today close higher, investors remain cautiously optimistic while awaiting the Fed&#8217;s decision and monitoring both corporate earnings and international developments that could impact stock market performance in the days ahead.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Market Overview at the Closing Bell The major U.S. stock indexes climbed higher Wednesday as investors awaited the Federal Reserve&#8217;s 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