Hormuz Lull Meets Fed Decision, Markets Tremble

As the Iran‑Hormuz flare cools, Wall Street and Asian markets sway under the looming Fed decision.

Market Ripples from the Strategic Pause

■Dow Jones futures jumped +0.65% (337 points).

■S&P 500 futures rose +0.80%.

■Nasdaq futures surged +1.28%, marking a sharp rally.

■Kospi index climbed +1.1% (74 points), underscoring Asia's momentum.

Oil Prices Plunge Amid Diplomatic Calm

■WTI crude fell 5.44% to $84.45 per barrel.

■Brent slipped 5.25% to $91.70 per barrel.

■Gold rose 1.15% to $4,118 per ounce.

Chip Giants Lock in AI‑Era Deals

■SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics sealed massive chip supply contracts for AI infrastructure.

■Samsung secured a $200 billion contract with Broadcom.

■Anthropic requested memory chips from SK Hynix for its own semiconductor production.

Fed Meeting Outlook and Investor Sentiment

■Central bankers will announce the rate decision this week; markets are split between a rate hike and a hold.

■The AI sector draws investor focus amid heavy capital expenditures and margin pressures.

Markets are digesting the geopolitical de‑escalation that sent oil prices tumbling while the Fed’s policy move hangs in the balance. A rate hike would pressure high‑tech equities, yet fresh chip agreements inject optimism into AI‑related investments. From an ECB standpoint, inflation remains sticky, suggesting a tight monetary stance in Europe. Consequently, FX and commodity volatility will persist, and risk managers should adopt a cautious positioning approach.