Stocks opened the week lower, with all major indices closing down Monday. Nervousness over the Federal Reserve’s strategy for next year contributed to the decline. Wall Street experts predict the next Fed Chairman will likely be dovish on rate cuts in 2026. The Dow Jones closed at 47,739, down 0.25%, S&P 500 at 6846, down 0.35%, and Nasdaq at 32,224, down 0.14%.

Markets traded flat on Tuesday, awaiting the Federal Reserve meeting. Analysts are watching for a 25-basis-point cut and any hints of further cuts in 2026. Yields were up, with the 30-year long bond at 4.81% and the 10-year note at 4.17%. The bond market is expecting high Treasury issuance this week, creating supply pressures.

Oil prices fell due to a stronger dollar, weak economic outlook, and Russia-Ukraine war uncertainty. Brent Crude closed at $62.51, down 1.95%, while West Texas Intermediate finished at $58.88, down 2%. Natural gas plummeted over 7% to $4.91, driven by warmer weather and profit-taking. Gasoline prices at the pump hit lows since 2021.

Gold remained flat as traders awaited the Fed’s decision and commentary. Nervousness over rate direction for 2026, a stronger dollar, and profit-taking were factors. Gold traded at $4,191. In the crypto market, Bitcoin hovered around $90,000-$92,000, showing strength despite signs of weakness. Ethereum and Solana also saw varied moves.

Top Wall Street analyst upgrades on Tuesday included Colgate-Palmolive, Eaton, Intel, Otis Worldwide, RPM International, and Viking Holdings. Downgrades were seen for Alibaba, Confluent, FMC Corp, JD.com, and SLM Inc. Initiations included Agilent, Align Technology, Delta Air Lines, Doximity, Micron Technology, and Reddit Inc.

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