DAILY NEWS BRIEF - MARKET OUTLOOK

March 18, 2026

Here are today's directional views from the global research desks of Ventura Prime FX! These are starting points for your own research to identify opportunities that make sense for you.

Crude Oil (WTI) Gold USD/JPY EUR/USD S&P 500 (CME) GBP/USD Silver Dow Jones (CME)

Market Wrap

Market Wrap: Stocks, Bonds, Commodities

On Tuesday, major U.S. stock indexes managed to rebound further despite higher oil prices, with the S&P 500 adding 16 pts (+0.25%) to 6,716, and the Nasdaq 100 up 125 points (+0.51%) to 24,780.

The Dow Jones gained 46 points (+0.10%) to 46,993.

After retreating over 5% on Monday, U.S. WTI crude futures settled up 2.71 dollars (+2.90%) at 96.21 dollars a barrel on Tuesday.

Israel reported the killing of Iran’s security chief, while Iran attacked the United Arab Emirates, causing disruption to oil loading at the port of Fujairah on the Gulf of Oman.

The U.S. 10-year Treasury yield retreated for a second session, dropping 2.0 basis points to 4.200%.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Federal Reserve will decide on interest rates on Wednesday.

Alphabet (GOOGL) rose 1.75%, and Amazon (AMZN) was up 1.63%.

Micron Technology (MU) advanced a further 4.50% to a record-high closing level above 461 dollars. The memory-chip maker will report quarterly earnings after the bell on Wednesday.

And data-storage stocks continued to excel, with Sandisk (SNDK) rising 2.35% and Western Digital (WDC) up 9.64%, both marking record-closing levels, and Seagate Technology (STX) up 5.59%.

Delta Air Lines (DAL) jumped 6.56% after raising its current-quarter sales forecast.

American Airlines (AAL) also climbed 3.53%, and United Airlines (UAL) was up 3.22%.

Uber Technologies (UBER) added 4.19% after jointly announcing plans with Nvidia to expand their partnership in self-driving vehicles.

Lyft Inc (LYFT) also gained 3.62%.

Eli Lilly (LLY) fell 5.94% after being downgraded to “reduce” by HSBC.

European stocks remained buoyed, with the DAX 40 closing 0.71% higher, the CAC 40 up 0.49%, and the FTSE 100 up 0.83%.

Gold was little changed at levels around 5,000 dollars an ounce.

Market Wrap: Forex

The U.S. dollar remained soft against other major currencies ahead of the Fed’s interest-rate decision on Wednesday.

EUR/USD increased 33 pips to 1.1536.

USD/JPY dipped 2 pips to 159.04.

GBP/USD advanced 35 pips to 1.3351.

AUD/USD rose 35 pips to 0.7104. As expected, Australia’s central bank hiked its key interest rate by 25 basis points to 4.10%. It pointed out that sharply higher fuel prices driven by the Iran war will add to inflation.

USD/CHF slipped 26 pips to 0.7849, while USD/CAD added 7 pips to 1.3693.

Bitcoin maintained its footing above 74,000 dollars.

Please note that due to market volatility, some of the key levels may have already been reached and scenarios played out.

Crude Oil (WTI)‎ (K6)‎ Intraday: look for 97.20.

Pivot:

93.30

Our preference:

Long positions above 93.30 with targets at 97.20 & 98.10 in extension.

Alternative scenario:

Below 93.30 look for further downside with 91.90 & 90.50 as targets.

Comment:

The RSI has just landed on its neutrality area at 50% and is turning up.

Trade

Gold Intraday: range.

Pivot:

5025

Our preference:

Short positions below 5025 with targets at 4965 & 4945 in extension.

Alternative scenario:

Above 5025 look for further upside with 5045 & 5065 as targets.

Comment:

Intraday technical indicators lack momentum.

Trade

USD/JPY Intraday: watch 158.50.

Pivot:

159.30

Our preference:

Short positions below 159.30 with targets at 158.70 & 158.50 in extension.

Alternative scenario:

Above 159.30 look for further upside with 159.50 & 159.70 as targets.

Comment:

As long as the resistance at 159.30 is not surpassed, the risk of the break below 158.70 remains high.

Trade

EUR/USD Intraday: the upside prevails.

Pivot:

1.1505

Our preference:

Long positions above 1.1505 with targets at 1.1565 & 1.1585 in extension.

Alternative scenario:

Below 1.1505 look for further downside with 1.1485 & 1.1465 as targets.

Comment:

The RSI is bullish and calls for further advance.

Trade

S&P 500 (CME)‎ (M6)‎ Intraday: consolidation in place.

Pivot:

6810

Our preference:

Short positions below 6810 with targets at 6745 & 6718 in extension.

Alternative scenario:

Above 6810 look for further upside with 6835 & 6850 as targets.

Comment:

As long as 6810 is resistance, expect a return to 6745.

Trade

GBP/USD Intraday: further advance.

Pivot:

1.3315

Our preference:

Long positions above 1.3315 with targets at 1.3390 & 1.3410 in extension.

Alternative scenario:

Below 1.3315 look for further downside with 1.3295 & 1.3270 as targets.

Comment:

The RSI calls for a bounce.

Trade

Silver Intraday: aim @ 78.20.

Pivot:

80.20

Our preference:

Short positions below 80.20 with targets at 78.20 & 77.00 in extension.

Alternative scenario:

Above 80.20 look for further upside with 81.30 & 82.50 as targets.

Comment:

A break below 78.20 would trigger a drop towards 77.00.

Trade

Dow Jones (CME)‎ (M6)‎ Intraday: consolidation in place.

Pivot:

47520

Our preference:

Short positions below 47520 with targets at 47140 & 47020 in extension.

Alternative scenario:

Above 47520 look for further upside with 47780 & 48010 as targets.

Comment:

The RSI is bearish and calls for further decline.

Trade

TRADING FOREIGN EXCHANGE ON MARGIN CARRIES A HIGH LEVEL OF RISK AND MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR ALL INVESTORS.

THE POSSIBILITY EXISTS THAT YOU COULD SUSTAIN A LOSS OF SOME OR ALL OF YOUR INITIAL INVESTMENT AND THEREFORE YOU SHOULD NOT INVEST MONEY THAT YOU CANNOT AFFORD TO LOSE.

THE HIGH DEGREE OF LEVERAGE CAN WORK AGAINST YOU AS WELL AS FOR YOU. BEFORE DECIDING TO TRADE FOREIGN EXCHANGE OR CFD’S YOU SHOULD CAREFULLY CONSIDER YOUR INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES, LEVEL OF EXPERIENCE, AND RISK APPETITE.

YOU SHOULD BE AWARE OF ALL THE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH FOREIGN EXCHANGE AND OTHER CFD TRADING, AND SEEK ADVICE FROM AN INDEPENDENT FINANCIAL ADVISOR IF YOU HAVE ANY DOUBTS. VPFX RECOMMENDS READING THE RISK DISCLOSURE SECTION OF THE PROSPECTUS FOR ANY FINANCIAL PRODUCT MENTIONED.

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