* Indexes off: Dow 0.46%, S&P 500 0.71%, Nasdaq 0.99%
* Trump mulls Kharg Island takeover, additional troop
deployment
* Main indexes on track for fourth straight weekly loss
* FedEx ( FDX ) up on strong forecast; Energy stocks gain
(Updates prices throughout, adds analyst comment)
By Johann M Cherian and Utkarsh Hathi
March 20 (Reuters) - Wall Street's main indexes fell on
Friday to multi-month lows as the Iran war entered its fourth
week, roiling energy markets and forcing investors to
aggressively rethink the Federal Reserve's next policy move.
The conflict in the Middle East showed no signs of easing,
with one report saying the Trump administration is planning to
occupy or blockade Iran's Kharg Island, and another that the
U.S. is deploying thousands of additional troops to the region.
A flurry of central bank decisions this week along with the
Fed acknowledged how the conflict has complicated policymaking.
Fed Governor Christopher Waller said on Friday he was planning
to dissent in favor of a rate cut at the central bank's meeting
due to unexpected job losses until a developing oil shock raised
inflation risks.
While U.S. policymakers still pencil in at least one
quarter-point interest rate cut this year, markets are less
convinced.
Sovereign bonds also sold off globally, with the yield on
the 30-year Treasury note up 8 basis points to touch
its highest since September.
Traders have pushed back expectations for an interest rate
cut to late 2027, according to the CME's FedWatch tool, with
odds for a rate hike by year-end now standing at roughly 40%.
"It's far too soon to make that suggestion," said Phil
Blancato, chief executive officer of Ladenburg Thalmann Asset
Management.
"When you look at PCE prices, they're basically stable. But
let's remember we care more about core than headline and if
there's any kind of conclusion that an end to the war is going
to bring oil prices back down, (expectations for a rate-hike
are) certainly more rhetoric than reality."
At 12:15 p.m. ET, the Dow Jones Industrial Average
fell 210.29 points, or 0.46%, to 45,811.14, the S&P 500
lost 46.79 points, or 0.71%, to 6,559.70 and the Nasdaq
Composite lost 218.59 points, or 0.99%, to 21,872.10.
Wall Street's fear gauge, the CBOE volatility index,
spiked 1.17 points to 25.31.
Ten of the 11 S&P 500 sector indexes were in the red, led by
bond proxies real estate and utilities,
which fell over 2% each.
Friday also marks the once-in-a-quarter simultaneous expiry
of derivatives contracts tied to stocks, index options and
futures, also known as "triple witching," which can boost
trading volume and aggravate volatility.
All three main indexes were heading for their fourth
straight week of losses and were below their 200-day moving
average, a technical indicator reflecting long-term momentum.
The small-cap-focused Russell 2000 index slipped 1.2%
and had briefly touched a 10% drop from all-time highs earlier
this week.
Super Micro Computer ( SMCI ) tumbled 28% after three people
associated with the artificial intelligence server maker were
charged with smuggling at least $2.5 billion of AI technology to
China. Rival Dell advanced 6%.
FedEx ( FDX ), often seen as a barometer of business
activity, issued upbeat forecastsand said global demand was
holding steady despite geopolitical tensions, sending its shares
up 1.9%. Rival United Parcel Service ( UPS ) added 0.6%.
Gains have been strong in energy stocks, with the S&P 500
sector index up 1.5%, putting it on track for its 13th
straight weekly winning streak. The rally would be its longest
on record, as geopolitical events in Venezuela and the Middle
East dominated much of the first quarter.
Declining issues outnumbered advancers by a 4.15-to-1 ratio
on the NYSE and by a 2.47-to-1 ratio on the Nasdaq.
The S&P 500 posted 11 new 52-week highs and 25 new lows,
while the Nasdaq Composite recorded 28 new highs and 175 new
lows.