Stock Market Update

[BRIEFING.COM] With about two hours to go on Tuesday afternoon the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (-0.83%) remains the worst laggard among the major averages.

Gold futures settled $10.40 lower (-0.3%) at $3,406.90/oz, marking a modest pullback from heightened levels driven by a mixture of safe-haven demand and shifting investor sentiment. Prices have been buoyed by escalating tensions in the Middle East, particularly flare-ups between Israel and Iran, as well as geopolitical rhetoric from President Trump, which have reinforced gold's appeal amid global uncertainty. At the same time, markets are positioning ahead of tomorrow's Federal Reserve rate policy announcement, with traders anticipating that while rates will likely hold, forward guidance on potential cutting paths could shape near-term yields and, in turn, bullion demand.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Dollar Index is up about +0.6% to $98.76.