Finance

The Federal Reserve is widely expected to keep interest rates steady at its April meeting, marking what may be Chair Jerome Powell's final policy decision. Officials are closely monitoring the impact of Middle East tensions on inflation, with some governors suggesting a 'higher-for-longer' stance may be necessary.

Wall Street is bracing for quarterly results from Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Alphabet, and Amazon, with nearly $19 trillion in combined market capitalization on the line. Investors are primarily focused on whether massive capital expenditures in AI infrastructure are beginning to translate into substantial revenue growth.

Energy markets remain volatile as Brent crude prices trade near $110 per barrel following reports of potential extensions to the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports. These elevated costs are reviving domestic inflation worries, with national average gasoline prices reaching their highest levels of the year.