This Week in Review | Energy Markets, Fed Meeting, Earnings Reporting (Mar. 20, 2026)

Global energy markets saw significant volatility this week as the Strait of Hormuz remained closed due to ongoing conflict with Iran, pushing Brent crude to around $110 per barrel and spiking European natural gas prices, though both remain below last week's highs. Despite concerns about rising costs and potential economic slowdown, historical analysis shows stocks tend to be positive 6-12 months after conflict outbreaks, and businesses are considered resilient enough to adapt to higher energy price ranges. The Federal Reserve maintained its policy rate unchanged at 3.5-3.75% for the second consecutive meeting, citing uncertainty from Middle East conflicts. While higher energy prices could cause temporary inflation upticks, analysts believe sustained broad-based inflation is unlikely due to moderate money supply growth and energy's limited 7% weight in the US consumer price index. The positive yield curve environment remains supportive for stocks regardless of incremental rate adjustments. Additionally, the SEC is reportedly preparing a proposal to eliminate quarterly earnings reporting requirements in favor of semi-annual reporting, aimed at reducing compliance burdens and encouraging more companies to go public. However, the decline in publicly traded companies from 7,500 in 1998 to 3,500 today is attributed to multiple factors beyond reporting frequency, and such regulatory changes typically take years to implement with ample time for market adaptation.