Federal Reserve (FED) news

The Federal Reserve (FED) is the central banking system in the US. It manages monetary policy to maintain price stability and promote maximum employment. It primarily uses the federal funds rate and open market operations to influence interest rates and the money supply, impacting the US economy and global markets. It also provides forward guidance to shape market expectations.

Chart alert: Dow Jones (DJIA) under pressure, medium-term uptrend at risk

The Dow Jones Industrial Average is showing signs of technical deterioration after underperforming other major US equity indices throughout the current bull cycle. Rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, higher Treasury yields, and a bear-flattening yield curve are tightening financial conditions and weighing on cyclical sectors. Technical indicators, including a breakdown below ascending channel support and bearish RSI divergence, suggest near-term downside risks remain elevated.

04-06-2026 10:07 GMT by Kelvin Wong

Asia open: Middle East tensions drive oil higher as S&P 500 snaps winning streak

Global markets retreated as renewed U.S.-Iran tensions disrupted ceasefire hopes and pushed oil prices higher. The S&P 500 snapped a nine-day winning streak while technology shares came under pressure after Broadcom issued weaker-than-expected AI growth guidance. Meanwhile, rising energy costs, strong labour markets, and persistent inflation reinforced expectations of further monetary tightening from major central banks, weighing on investor sentiment worldwide.

04-06-2026 06:16 GMT by Kelvin Wong