Pre-market briefing Pre-Market Briefing — June 18, 2026
Today at a Glance
Previous Day Recap
US equities all fell yesterday as Kevin Warsh's first FOMC meeting as the new chair delivered a hawkish shock. The Fed held rates at 3.50–3.75%, but with half of the dot-plot participants signaling a hike within the year and the removal of dovish bias, Treasury yields and the dollar spiked, while the volatility index (VIX) surged more than 12%. The Dow dropped 0.98%, and the S&P 500 and Nasdaq fell 1.21% and 1.34%, respectively. However, semiconductor stocks such as Intel partially recovered from the prior session's steep decline on company-specific catalysts, contrasting with weakness in mega-cap tech.
Current Market Sentiment
Futures markets are staging a strong rebound ahead of today's open. Nasdaq futures are soaring roughly 1.5%, led by a recovery in technology stocks, while S&P 500 futures (+0.9%) and Dow futures (+0.6%) are also trading higher. The key driver is the rapid easing of geopolitical risk after the US and Iran signed a 14-point memorandum of understanding that includes reopening the Strait of Hormuz. International crude prices dropped more than 2% on the news, pushing Brent below $78 per barrel. The hawkish afterglow from yesterday's Fed meeting is still in play, but for today, relief from the Iran agreement is lifting risk appetite.
Pre-Market News Roundup
Today's Events
All of today's key releases come before the open. We highlight the names with the greatest market impact.
Macro Calendar
There are no major indicators today, but employment and manufacturing data just before the open could set the tone.
Consensus: 220K (prior: 220K). This indicator tracks signs of labor market cooling, and the key question is whether a cooling signal emerges against the backdrop of a hawkish Fed.
Consensus: 10 (prior: -0.4). With an expected swing back into expansion from contraction, this will confirm whether the manufacturing recovery is taking hold.
Ex-Dividend
Stocks to Watch
Today's Action Plan
Stay steady today, and have a great day.
Back to ListDisclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. All investment responsibility lies with the investor.
Today's 5 AI picks, all free