Wall Street closes lower on tariff concerns ahead of Fed decision

From Investing.com: 2025-03-18 16:05:59

Wall Street closed lower amidst concerns over tariffs, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average falling 0.3% and the S&P 500 dropping 0.2%. Investors are closely watching for the Federal Reserve’s decision on interest rates.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed down 0.3% at 34,312.46, while the S&P 500 dropped 0.2% to 4,188.13. The Nasdaq Composite also saw a decline of 0.1% to end at 13,657.17.

Investors are awaiting the Federal Reserve’s decision on Wednesday, with expectations that interest rates will remain unchanged. The central bank is expected to provide an update on its monetary policy and economic projections.

Technology and healthcare stocks led the market lower, with Apple, Microsoft, and Amazon all seeing declines. Concerns over inflation and potential interest rate hikes continue to weigh on investor sentiment.

The Cboe Volatility Index, known as Wall Street’s “fear gauge,” rose to 17.87, reflecting increased market uncertainty. The index measures expectations for stock market volatility over the next 30 days.



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