Stock Market Today With IBD Stocks Slump After Fed Holds Rates Steady; WaterBridge, Nova, Curtiss-Wright In Focus
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Mar 18, 2026 Market weakness and key indexes testing 200-day levels. Fed decision and mixed jobs data sparking a selloff into the close. Rising yields and oil pressures with inflation risks. Chip sector focus ahead of Micron earnings and notable outperformance amid volatility. Spotlight on Waterbridge IPO setup, Nova’s chip-equipment positioning, and Curtiss-Wright’s aerospace-defense breakout.
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Major Indexes Lose Rally Momentum
- The S&P and Nasdaq slipped below key 200-day moving averages, signaling the rally has lost momentum.
- The S&P closed under Friday's low and the Nasdaq closed below its 200-day line, suggesting institutional selling and a weaker market backdrop.
Oil And Yields Are A Double Headwind
- Rising oil prices and the Iran conflict coincided with higher 10-year yields, creating a headwind for stocks.
- Ken links the yield rise and oil breakout to geopolitical risk and warns that persistent high oil could keep inflation sticky.
Selective Strength In Semiconductors
- The semiconductor group still showed pockets of leadership despite broader weakness, with Intel and AMD outperforming earlier.
- Many chip equipment names held their 10-week moving averages, indicating selective strength within the sector.