US Fed meeting, March 18 -- The US Federal Reserve began its two-day policy meeting on March 17, with the outcome slated to be announced later tonight, March 18. The Federal Reserve meeting comes against the backdrop of the US-Iran conflict, which has heightened uncertainty in the global economy.

The tensions, which began on February 28, have disrupted global oil supplies and driven prices sharply higher. As a result, policymakers are concerned that this could further fuel inflation, which is already above the Fed's 2% target, while rising energy costs may also weigh on economic growth. This has placed the central bank in a challenging position, as it seeks to control inflation while supporting economic expansion.

The Fed's benchmark in...