{"id":50021,"date":"2025-06-18T17:02:00","date_gmt":"2025-06-18T21:02:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thestockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/stock-market-today-markets-rise-ahead-of-fed-decision-amid-middle-east-tensions\/50021\/"},"modified":"2025-06-18T17:02:00","modified_gmt":"2025-06-18T21:02:00","slug":"stock-market-today-markets-rise-ahead-of-fed-decision-amid-middle-east-tensions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/stock-market-today-markets-rise-ahead-of-fed-decision-amid-middle-east-tensions\/50021\/","title":{"rendered":"Stock Market Today: Markets Rise Ahead of Fed Decision Amid Middle East Tensions"},"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-markets-rise-ahead-of-fed-decision-amid-middle-east-tensions\/50021\/#Market_Overview\" >Market Overview<\/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-markets-rise-ahead-of-fed-decision-amid-middle-east-tensions\/50021\/#Geopolitical_Tensions_and_Economic_Data\" >Geopolitical Tensions and Economic Data<\/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-markets-rise-ahead-of-fed-decision-amid-middle-east-tensions\/50021\/#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-4\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/stock-market-today-markets-rise-ahead-of-fed-decision-amid-middle-east-tensions\/50021\/#Top_Performers_and_Laggards\" >Top Performers and Laggards<\/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-markets-rise-ahead-of-fed-decision-amid-middle-east-tensions\/50021\/#Earnings_in_Focus\" >Earnings in Focus<\/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-markets-rise-ahead-of-fed-decision-amid-middle-east-tensions\/50021\/#Looking_Ahead\" >Looking Ahead<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Market_Overview\"><\/span>Market Overview<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>U.S. stocks climbed higher on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, as investors awaited the Federal Reserve&#8217;s interest rate decision while monitoring ongoing tensions in the Middle East. The major indices all posted gains despite geopolitical concerns and disappointing housing data.<cscitation citation_id=\"task_1__1\"><\/cscitation><\/p>\n<p>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 <a href=\"https:\/\/stockmarketwatch.com\/indices\/dowjones\/today\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"1\" title=\"Dow Jones Today\">Dow Jones<\/a> Industrial Average rose 0.6%, adding 258 points to reach 42,403.03. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite gained 0.6% to 19,637.94, continuing its strong monthly performance with a 2.22% increase over the past 30 days.<cscitation citation_id=\"task_1__1\"><\/cscitation><cscitation citation_id=\"task_1__2\"><\/cscitation><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Geopolitical_Tensions_and_Economic_Data\"><\/span>Geopolitical Tensions and Economic Data<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Today&#8217;s <b>market recap<\/b> comes amid escalating conflict between Israel and Iran, now in its sixth day. Iran&#8217;s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, warned that the U.S. would face &#8220;irreparable damage&#8221; if it entered the conflict, while President Donald Trump has threatened &#8220;unconditional surrender&#8221; from Iran.<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<p>On the economic front, new housing construction hit its lowest level in five years for May, according to the Commerce Department. Housing starts ran at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.256 million, down 9.8% from April and well below economists&#8217; expectations of 1.35 million. Building permits also declined 2% to 1.393 million, missing forecasts of 1.42 million.<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 <b><a href=\"https:\/\/stockmarketwatch.com\/live\/stock-market-today\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"6\" title=\"Stock Market Today\">stock market today<\/a><\/b> is primarily focused on the Federal Reserve&#8217;s interest rate decision, scheduled for 2 p.m. ET. While the central bank is widely expected to hold rates steady, investors are closely watching for Fed Chair Jerome Powell&#8217;s comments and the updated &#8220;dot plot&#8221; showing policymakers&#8217; rate expectations.<cscitation citation_id=\"task_1__1\"><\/cscitation><\/p>\n<p>President Trump criticized Fed Chair Powell ahead of the decision, 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=\"Top_Performers_and_Laggards\"><\/span>Top Performers and Laggards<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>In today&#8217;s <b>markets today<\/b> session, several stocks stood out among the gainers and losers. On the Nasdaq, top performers included Gilead Sciences (<a href=\"https:\/\/thestockmarketwatch.com\/stock\/?stock=GILD\">GILD<\/a>) up 2.93%, Intel (<a href=\"https:\/\/thestockmarketwatch.com\/stock\/?stock=INTC\">INTC<\/a>) gaining 2.45%, and Tesla (<a href=\"https:\/\/thestockmarketwatch.com\/stock\/?stock=TSLA\">TSLA<\/a>) advancing 1.93%.<cscitation citation_id=\"task_1__2\"><\/cscitation><\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, PayPal (<a href=\"https:\/\/thestockmarketwatch.com\/stock\/?stock=PYPL\">PYPL<\/a>) led the Nasdaq decliners, falling 3.14%, followed by JD.com (<a href=\"https:\/\/thestockmarketwatch.com\/stock\/?stock=JD\">JD<\/a>) down 2.20%, and Alibaba (<a href=\"https:\/\/thestockmarketwatch.com\/stock\/?stock=BABA\">BABA<\/a>) dropping 1.53%.<cscitation citation_id=\"task_1__2\"><\/cscitation><\/p>\n<p>Among Dow components, financial stocks showed strength with Goldman Sachs (<a href=\"https:\/\/thestockmarketwatch.com\/stock\/?stock=GS\">GS<\/a>) rising 2.17% and JPMorgan Chase (<a href=\"https:\/\/thestockmarketwatch.com\/stock\/?stock=JPM\">JPM<\/a>) adding 2.15%. On the downside, Visa (<a href=\"https:\/\/thestockmarketwatch.com\/stock\/?stock=V\">V<\/a>) fell 3.17%, while Dow Inc. (<a href=\"https:\/\/thestockmarketwatch.com\/stock\/?stock=DOW\">DOW<\/a>) declined 2.41% and Salesforce (<a href=\"https:\/\/thestockmarketwatch.com\/stock\/?stock=CRM\">CRM<\/a>) slipped 1.67%.<cscitation citation_id=\"task_1__2\"><\/cscitation><\/p>\n<p>The CBOE Volatility Index, often referred to as the market&#8217;s fear gauge, decreased 0.93% to 20.67 points, suggesting reduced investor anxiety despite the ongoing geopolitical tensions.<cscitation citation_id=\"task_1__2\"><\/cscitation><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Earnings_in_Focus\"><\/span>Earnings in Focus<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>After the <b>market news today<\/b>, several companies are set to report earnings. 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>) will release their quarterly results after the market close, with options data suggesting potential stock moves of 13.06% and 17.86%, respectively.<cscitation citation_id=\"task_2__1\"><\/cscitation><cscitation citation_id=\"task_2__2\"><\/cscitation><\/p>\n<p>Earlier today, Progressive Corp (<a href=\"https:\/\/thestockmarketwatch.com\/stock\/?stock=PGR\">PGR<\/a>) and Kroger Co (<a href=\"https:\/\/thestockmarketwatch.com\/stock\/?stock=KR\">KR<\/a>) reported their quarterly earnings before the market opened. Other companies reporting included GMS Inc (<a href=\"https:\/\/thestockmarketwatch.com\/stock\/?stock=GMS\">GMS<\/a>) and Winnebago Industries (<a href=\"https:\/\/thestockmarketwatch.com\/stock\/?stock=WGO\">WGO<\/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>As this <b>todays stock market recap<\/b> concludes, investors should keep an eye on the Federal Reserve&#8217;s decision and commentary, which could significantly impact market direction in the coming days. Additionally, weekly jobless claims data released today showed 245,000 initial claims, slightly below the estimate of 246,000, indicating continued resilience in the labor market.<cscitation citation_id=\"task_1__1\"><\/cscitation><\/p>\n<p>The ongoing Middle East conflict remains a key risk factor for markets, with potential implications for oil prices and global economic stability. Traders will also be watching for any developments in U.S.-China relations, particularly regarding technology companies and trade policies.<\/p>\n<p>With the S&#038;P 500 hovering above the 6,000 mark and the Dow maintaining levels above 42,000, <b>market news today<\/b> suggests investors remain cautiously optimistic despite geopolitical and economic challenges.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Market Overview U.S. stocks climbed higher on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, as investors awaited the Federal Reserve&#8217;s interest rate decision 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