Pre-Market Report – Friday 20 March: US markets stage recovery | Oil slips, gold and silver fall

US equity indices pared significant session losses on Thursday as the S&P 500 and Nasdaq ended down just 0.2% while the Dow Jones declined 0.3% following a recovery from four-month lows. Volatility across asset classes eased as US oil retreated toward $94 per barrel after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Israel is assisting the US in reopening the vital Strait of Hormuz. These developments tempered earlier stagflation fears as investors weighed comments from US President Donald Trump and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent regarding diplomatic efforts to restore global energy supply chains. In corporate news Micron Technology shares fell 3.8% despite a strong revenue forecast as investors focused on high production spending plans while other tech heavyweights like Meta (-1.4%) and Nvidia (-1%) also faced pressure. Treasury yields rebounded from their worst point of the session as bonds bounced from lows following these geopolitical updates.

SPI down 5 - Oil slips - Gold and commodities fall

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