0647 GMT - Investors and markets will be particularly focused on the median federal funds rate dot plot for the year-end 2026, First Citizens Bank's Phil Neuhart says ahead of the Federal Reserve's rate decision on Wednesday. "It is a close call, but we think the median will continue to forecast just one cut during the remainder of this year," the head of market and economic research says. Beyond FOMC projections, the tone of Chair Jerome Powell's press conference will be the key market-moving variable, specifically, how he addresses the tension between the recent spike in oil prices and the weakening in labor market data, Neuhart says. (emese.bartha@wsj.com)
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
March 18, 2026 02:47 ET (06:47 GMT)
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