Wall St Week Ahead-Rate-hike fears abate but Ukraine muddies stock market outlook

Investors have virtually priced out the chances of a hefty 50 basis point rate hike in March, giving a lift to the technology and growth stocks that had been pummeled in recent weeks by anticipation of harsh Fed tightening.

NEW YORK: Geopolitical worries are clouding the outlook for U.S. stocks, even as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine moderates expectations for how aggressively the Federal Reserve will tighten monetary policy in coming months.

Concerns over the conflict weighed on the S&P 500 .SPX on Friday, as the index pared a rally that has seen it rise 5.2% from its Feb 24 intraday low.