Hormuz Tensions, Inflation, and the Fed Keep Markets Under Pressure

U.S. stocks logged a fourth straight weekly loss as the Dow and Nasdaq fell and the S&P 500 slipped below its 200-day average, signaling a potential inflection point. Oil prices surged on Strait of Hormuz disruptions and Iranian strikes, stoking inflation fears even as February wholesale inflation came in higher than expected. The Fed left rates unchanged but raised its growth and inflation forecasts, diminishing hopes for near-term rate cuts. With Middle East tensions, oil upside, a softer labor market, and mixed earnings headlines weighing on sentiment, investors await clearer macro signals.