The first half of Wednesday’s session brought a slowdown in declines, but sentiment remains jittery and investor concerns are still elevated. European equities are mostly lower, with losses averaging around 0.2%. This trend is deepened by the WIG20, whose futures are down about 0.7%.
- One of the main downward pressures on indices remains the situation in the Middle East. As the WSJ reports, oil company executives are increasingly starting to openly describe the situation as an oil crisis. Forecasts for restoring the East-West pipeline to full functionality are becoming extreme, with speculation ranging from days to months. Oil prices remain above USD 108 per barrel, while the European gas contract has fallen below EUR 79.
- Bitcoin lost about 5% in yesterday’s session and dropped below USD 76,000. This follows a U.S. Senate vote on the “Clarity” bill that is at risk of failing. The bill is intended to significantly simplify and regulate cryptocurrency trading.
- A moderate improvement in sentiment in the memory market may come from SK Hynix, which has reached an agreement with labor unions on the payment of bonuses.
- Bloomberg reports that OpenAI is reportedly in the process of raising another funding round, this time said to amount to around USD 1.2 trillion.
- The market is reducing volatility and volume while awaiting the Fed’s interest rate decision. The decision will be published two hours before the end of trading in the U.S., and the Fed Chair’s press conference will begin at the close of the session. Comments from the press conference and potential Fed intentions, which Kevin Warsh is conspicuously trying not to reveal, may prove just as important, if not more important, than the decision itself.
Company News
- Soitec (SOI.FR): The stock is up around 6% after a valuation-supportive note from JPMorgan, which pointed to a strong outlook for the photonics industry.
- Stellantis (STLAM.IT): The automaker is down about 2% on the back of negative publications from an investment firm. At the same time, the firm pointed to a better outlook for BMW, which is up about 1%.
- Renault (RNO.FR): The automaker announced a new investment in Brazil in cooperation with China’s Geely Holding; the stock is down about 3%.
- ASML (ASML.NL): Positive news from SK Hynix is supporting semiconductor valuations. ASML is up about 2%, while Siemens and Infineon are up about 1%.
Macroeconomic Data
- Sweden’s unemployment rate rose to 8.5%.
- UK CPI came in in line with expectations and rose to 3.1% year over year. Core inflation held at 2.6% year over year.
- UK retail sales slowed its growth rate to 3.4% year over year.
- One hour before the U.S. session opens, U.S. retail sales data will be released. The market expects monthly growth to accelerate to 0.8%.
- One hour after the U.S. session opens, the EIA is set to publish data on weekly changes in crude oil and distillate inventories. The market expects crude inventories to fall by 1.7 million barrels and gasoline inventories to fall by 1.2 million barrels.
Gold and Silver Rise Ahead of Fed Decision
Chart of the Day: What’s next for the US stock market? (16.09.2026)
Economic Calendar: Time for an interest rate hike? (16.09.2026)
Morning Wrap: Market seeks balance ahead of Fed decision (16.09.2026)
The content of this report has been created by XTB S.A., with its registered office in Warsaw, at Prosta 67, 00-838 Warsaw, Poland, (KRS number 0000217580) and supervised by Polish Supervision Authority ( No. DDM-M-4021-57-1/2005). This material is a marketing communication within the meaning of Art. 24 (3) of Directive 2014/65/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 May 2014 on markets in financial instruments and amending Directive 2002/92/EC and Directive 2011/61/EU (MiFID II). Marketing communication is not an investment recommendation or information recommending or suggesting an investment strategy within the meaning of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014 on market abuse (market abuse regulation) and repealing Directive 2003/6/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and Commission Directives 2003/124/EC, 2003/125/EC and 2004/72/EC and Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/958 of 9 March 2016 supplementing Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to regulatory technical standards for the technical arrangements for objective presentation of investment recommendations or other information recommending or suggesting an investment strategy and for disclosure of particular interests or indications of conflicts of interest or any other advice, including in the area of investment advisory, within the meaning of the Trading in Financial Instruments Act of 29 July 2005 (i.e. Journal of Laws 2019, item 875, as amended). The marketing communication is prepared with the highest diligence, objectivity, presents the facts known to the author on the date of preparation and is devoid of any evaluation elements. The marketing communication is prepared without considering the client’s needs, his individual financial situation and does not present any investment strategy in any way. The marketing communication does not constitute an offer of sale, offering, subscription, invitation to purchase, advertisement or promotion of any financial instruments. XTB S.A. is not liable for any client’s actions or omissions, in particular for the acquisition or disposal of financial instruments, undertaken on the basis of the information contained in this marketing communication. In the event that the marketing communication contains any information about any results regarding the financial instruments indicated therein, these do not constitute any guarantee or forecast regarding the future results.