Fed decides amid uncertain trade outlook, tense Mid East [Video]

US stocks sold off, oil and natural gas rallied, and the US dollar gained as US Treasuries and gold attracted safe-haven flows. Mounting tensions between Israel and Iran, alongside Donald Trump’s early departure from the G7 meeting, spurred concerns that the US could become involved in the Middle East crisis.

Investors are taking risk off the table, bracing for further escalation and a potential prolongation of tensions with Iran.

All this sets the stage for the Federal Reserve’s (Fed) latest policy decision and the release of its updated dot plot later today. The Fed is not expected to change rates at this meeting. The base case remains two rate cuts this year, with the first likely not before September, according to Fed funds futures pricing. While the economic projections and dot plot could shift market expectations, rising geopolitical and trade uncertainties mean the Fed’s growth and inflation forecasts may lack precision, and should be taken with a grain of salt.