South Korea Financial Markets

Currency traders watch monitors near a screen showing international oil prices at the foreign exchange dealing room of the Hana Bank headquarters in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, March 18, 2026.

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US stocks slump on worries about higher oil prices, inflation and interest rates

US stocks slump on worries about higher oil prices, inflation and interest rates

U.S. stocks slumped after a report said inflation was primed to worsen even before the war with Iran sent oil prices spiking. That and comments from the head of the Federal Reserve pushed Wall Street on Wednesday to see less chance of getting the lower interest rates that it loves. The S&P 500 fell 1.4% for its first loss this week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 1.6%, and the Nasdaq composite slid 1.5%. Treasury yields climbed in the bond market, which hurts prices for all kinds of investments. Gold fell back below $5,000 per ounce.