Dow closes more than 700 points down after Fed holds rates steady

CBS News
March 18, 2026
2 views
3 min read

Quick Insights

The Bottom Line

The stock market declined over 700 points after the Federal Reserve held interest rates steady for a second consecutive meeting.

How This Affects You

Stock market losses may affect retirement accounts and investment portfolios held by millions of Americans.

AI Summary

The Federal Reserve held its benchmark interest rate unchanged at its latest policy meeting, prompting a sharp market selloff that sent the Dow Jones Industrial Average down more than 700 points on Wednesday. The decision marks the second consecutive meeting where the Fed kept rates steady, signaling a pause in its monetary policy adjustments. Investors had anticipated potential rate cuts or shifts in the Fed's economic outlook, and the unchanged stance disappointed market participants concerned about inflation and economic growth. The decline reflects broader market volatility as traders reassess the trajectory of interest rates and their implications for corporate earnings and borrowing costs. The market's reaction underscores how closely Wall Street monitors Federal Reserve decisions as signals of the economic path ahead.

Source Coverage Map

7 of 43 tracked sources covered this story

16% coverage
Did Not Cover (36)
ICIJ97AP World News96AP News96AP US News96AP Top News96+31 more

Following this story?

Get notified when new coverage appears

Other Sources Covering This Story

5 sources

Multiple outlets have reported on this story. Compare perspectives from different sources.

Should this be getting more attention?

You Might Have Missed

Related stories from different sources and perspectives

New economic projections signal a tricky Federal Reserve path
Finance

New economic projections signal a tricky Federal Reserve path

<p>The Federal Reserve will almost certainly hold rates steady, but fresh economic projections and other communications due out Wednesday afternoon will show how the central bank is absorbing two uncomfortable realities at once.</p><p><strong>Why it matters: </strong>The energy shock from the Iran war adds a new factor to the Fed's complicated calculus. Inflation is running hotter than expected, even before the war's impact materializes in the data. Labor market data has been grim, and it's unclear how a sustained oil shock could weigh more heavily on the economy.</p><hr><ul><li>Whatever the projections show will set the table for Fed chair Jerome Powell's successor, Kevin Warsh.</li></ul><p><strong>What they're saying: </strong>"The new dot plot likely will indicate that most members retain a bias to ease policy this year and in 2027," Sam Tombs, chief U.S. economist at Pantheon Macro, wrote in a client note.</p><ul><li>But Tombs cautioned that "the biggest risk to markets" is if n...

AxiosMar 17
Federal judge strikes down Arkansas Ten Commandments in public schools law
Civil Rights

Federal judge strikes down Arkansas Ten Commandments in public schools law

An Arkansas law requiring that the Ten Commandments be prominently displayed in public school classrooms has been struck down by a federal judge.

CBS NewsMar 18
Live updates: Interest rates steady, Federal Reserve forecasts one rate cut in 2026 - Yahoo Finance
Finance

Live updates: Interest rates steady, Federal Reserve forecasts one rate cut in 2026 - Yahoo Finance

Yahoo FinanceMar 19
The Federal Reserve is facing tough choices as the economy faces deep uncertainty
Finance

The Federal Reserve is facing tough choices as the economy faces deep uncertainty

The Federal Reserve's job is expected to hold its benchmark interest rate steady as it faces inflationary pressure from the war with Iran — and a weakening labor market.

NPRMar 18
This DHS Official Oversees the Security of Federal Elections. He Wants to Ban Voting Machines.
Politics

This DHS Official Oversees the Security of Federal Elections. He Wants to Ban Voting Machines.

The post This DHS Official Oversees the Security of Federal Elections. He Wants to Ban Voting Machines. appeared first on ProPublica .

ProPublicaMar 14
Apache women seek court intervention as federal land is turned over for copper mining - AP News
Civil Rights

Apache women seek court intervention as federal land is turned over for copper mining - AP News

<a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMingFBVV95cUxPZXBBcVBobTJWazVmMXNkWmsyTkw4YXVDcnJDRm1UaWM4UWVXanJ0eWUwSmtnMHBidnhZSVgwdjhMMkVjek0zd0themlTakVWQ3lkX0x4X0JRSGVueDE4N0ZWNl85M0VKb0JFb1ltOEtsX09DSFFEbFlaYXJyVGhJNDF4SVJBNTF3V3JfVURFTFgtLU41MXNDNi1IUGtCUQ?oc=5" target="_blank">Apache women seek court intervention as federal land is turned over for copper mining</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<font color="#6f6f6f">AP News</font>

AP NewsMar 16
Read Next
US Postal Service could run out of money as soon as October - Reuters
Finance

US Postal Service could run out of money as soon as October - Reuters

<a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMimwFBVV95cUxOX0xZZVhKVmJyeExTLUlJZzNuRmRoYUVoTGNPOS1vbXNydTlhcjNMWFF0amNsdEc0WWtYc1M0VVoxbVdDOHpXR3B6S0tSc3J4QzJVWWdkUkRuWW5keV9jampOODVlQ3l3cXdQWDd1NGtmb0dya3RybTRqdnRBT0p4VTlOMHVUbElDSkVvOFB3TUNBaHI2d0dGbFhGOA?oc=5" target="_blank">US Postal Service could run out of money as soon as October</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<font color="#6f6f6f">Reuters</font>

Continue reading

Did this story change how you see things?

Stories like this only matter when people see them. Help us get verified journalism in front of more eyes.

Share this story

Get the daily digest

Save for later

The Verity Ledger curates verified investigative journalism from trusted sources only.

See our sources