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Washington Signals Swift Timeline for Iran Operation

US official said that achievable objectives of Operation Epic Fury are expected to last about six weeks. The White House says it expects U.S. military objectives in Iran to be achieved within four to six weeks , emphasizing that Operation Epic Fury is progressing as planned. According to Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, the campaign has already weakened Iran’s naval capabilities and sharply reduced missile attacks, putting the U.S. “well on its way” toward its strategic goals.  The operation, now in its second week, focuses on dismantling Iran’s ballistic missile infrastructure, degrading its navy, and limiting its pathway to nuclear weapons. Officials maintain that U.S. stockpiles and resources are sufficient to sustain the mission through its projected timeline.  As regional tensions escalate, Washington continues to frame the operation as both achievable and time‑bound, reinforcing its confidence in meeting objectives by early April.

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Anticipation and Reaction to Fed’s Rate Decision

 


As investors braced for the U.S. Federal Reserve’s decision, North American stock markets experienced a mixed close. The Fed maintained its key interest rate at 5.25%-5.50%, leaving the future of rate cuts uncertain. Despite this, the S&P 500 and Nasdaq dipped, while the Dow Jones and S&P/TSX Composite saw modest gains.

Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s press conference offered a glimmer of hope as he dismissed the likelihood of an immediate rate hike, causing a surge in market optimism. He acknowledged the persistent issue of inflation but expressed confidence in the progress towards the 2% target.

The labor market showed signs of normalization, with job openings at a three-year low2. Meanwhile, the earnings season is more than halfway through, with a majority of S&P 500 companies surpassing consensus expectations.

In the corporate landscape, AMD’s AI chip sales forecast led to a 9% drop in its shares, while Amazon’s AI-driven cloud growth pushed its stock up by 2.2%. Johnson & Johnson plans to proceed with a multi-billion-dollar lawsuit settlement, and Starbucks faced a significant sales forecast cut.

The energy sector took a hit due to falling oil prices and a potential Middle East ceasefire, while uranium miners saw a boost from a U.S. ban on Russian imports. Canadian manufacturing activity continued to contract, reflecting ongoing economic challenges.

In summary, the market’s response to the Fed’s decision was a complex interplay of anticipation, relief, and sector-specific movements, highlighting the intricate dynamics of financial markets.

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