Comprehensive News Report for Sunday, March 15, 2026

Stock Market Update

On March 13, U.S. stock markets fell. The Dow Jones Industrial Average went down 0.26% to 46,558.47, the S&P 500 dropped 0.61% to 6,632.19, and the Nasdaq Composite fell 0.93% to 22,105.359. Investors grew more worried about the U.S.-Iran conflict and its potential impact on fuel prices and inflation.

As tensions rise, President Trump is reportedly considering allowing a strike on Iran. In a surprising move, the United States has also temporarily approved the purchase of Russian oil.

Precious Metals Update: Silver Prices, Short Positions, and Alleged Price Manipulation

On Sunday, gold traded just below its all-time high, between $5,011 and $5,013 per ounce. While gold fell 0.13% for the day, it has jumped an impressive 67.93% over the past year. Silver, meanwhile, was priced at $79.84 per ounce, dropping 0.60% from the previous day.

In January 2026, silver prices went up quickly to $121–$122 per ounce before dropping 32% on January 30, erasing $2.5 trillion in market value. After the crash, prices settled between $74 and $78, recovering some losses. This was the biggest one-day drop since the 1980s.

Major banks, particularly JPMorgan Chase, rapidly closed silver short positions, reducing exposure by approximately 25-47 million ounces over several weeks. Reports indicate that JPMorgan closed shorts near $78 per ounce and took delivery of millions of ounces, including 633 contracts in a single day. This activity followed JPMorgan’s 2020 fine of $920 million for precious metal manipulation and spoofing, part of a total $1.3 billion in fines levied against four banks from 2016 to 2026 for misconduct between 2008 and 2016. According to COMEX and CFTC data, JPMorgan remained the largest holder of silver shorts at expiration. Ongoing speculation among traders and major banks centers on the alleged orchestration of the price crash through margin hikes, spoofing, or front-running, with some referencing news related to the Federal Reserve. Critics highlight previous prison sentences for traders and the banks’ historical conduct to support these claims. Mainstream analysts attribute the price movement to factors such as a liquidity crunch, a stronger dollar, oil market conditions, and an impending inflation report. Kitco has noted increased institutional investment in silver miners, resistance to the World Gold Council’s claims of depletion and manipulation, and the influence of stagflation and Federal Reserve signaling, suggesting continued price pressure.

No new rules came out this week, but recent chaos has restarted arguments about how much power big banks have at COMEX.

Interest Rates and Mortgage Market Update

The Federal Reserve’s target range for its main interest rate is still 3.50% to 3.75%, with the actual rate about 3.64% this week. The rate has not changed since January, and officials are mostly using public statements to guide expectations instead of changing policies.

For the first time in seven months, the 30-year fixed mortgage rate has gone above 6%, with the national average now at 6.41%, up 0.12 percentage points. The 15-year fixed rate also rose to 6.01%. Experts say recent drops in oil prices and trouble in the bond market, both caused by the Iran conflict, are the main reasons.

Mortgage applications jumped last week, reaching the highest level of refinancing demand in 4 years. Being able to afford a home is still a big worry.

Housing and Mortgage Industry Outlook: 2026

The housing sector remains cautiously optimistic, though hopes for strong growth are muted. Existing-home sales inched up in February, and inventory is slowly building. Builders are offering rate buy-downs to entice buyers, but high interest rates and unpredictable labor and material costs remain major hurdles.

Key forecasts for 2026 include:

• Home prices are expected to rise by up to 2.2%. J.P. Morgan predicts no increase, while Redfin, Realtor.com, and NAR forecast increases between 1% and 2.2%.
• Mortgage rates are expected to average about 6%. The number of times the Federal Reserve raises rates each year affects these predictions. By the end of the year, mortgage rates are expected to range from 5.9% to 6.3%.
• Home sales are expected to increase only slightly, with predictions ranging from 10% to 14%. A real market boom probably will not happen until mortgage rates fall below 6%, which is not expected before 2027.

New Senate bills from both parties about making housing more affordable are expected to have little effect. Slow growth in the number of homes for sale means the market will likely stay steady for now.

Economic Indicators and National News

February Data (latest):

• The unemployment rate is 4.4%, unchanged from last month. Payrolls unexpectedly declined by 92,000 positions.
• Inflation, measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), went up 0.3% from last month. The yearly inflation rate is 2.4%, close to the lowest in several years. The Core CPI went up by 2.5%.

Rising energy prices and the ongoing war have made people less confident about the economy. Meanwhile, reports of “fraud in Minnesota and other states” continue to spread, but there was no new economic data this week.

Update on Investigations Involving Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell. There are no active congressional or DOJ investigations into any wrongdoing by Fed Chairman Jerome. Some commentators speculate about the Fed’s independence, the Trump administration, and so-called “regime change” concerns, including succession discussions.

Powell has stated he is “not concerned” about rising gold and precious metals prices or their potential link to monetary policy. He emphasized that his main focus remains on inflation and employment, not asset prices. Recent comments about the dollar’s weakness and higher gold prices have not led to any formal investigations.

Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel face bipartisan scrutiny in Congress over the Department of Justice’s handling of the Epstein files. The House Oversight Committee is preparing to subpoena Bondi for a deposition, citing unjustified delays, extensive redactions, missing documents (including some related to Trump), and a rushed document review process. Both parties have criticized the DOJ’s transparency, whether real or perceived, under the Epstein Files Transparency Act.

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is also being questioned about his role in the Trump Administration, but these issues are not related to the Epstein case. Hearings regarding his actions are taking place this week.

U.S.-Iran War Update

On February 28, 2026, the conflict reached a breaking point as the U.S. and Israel launched Operation Epic Fury. The operation killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and his son Mojtaba, who was supposed to take over. In response, Iran fired missiles and drones at countries friendly to the U.S. and important Gulf facilities, closing the important Strait of Hormuz. This latest conflict broke out after years of growing tension: Trump-era sanctions, the killing of General Qassem Soleimani, worries about nuclear weapons, and attacks by groups supported by other countries all led up to it. The immediate cause was actions by Iran, military build-ups, and defensive moves by the U.S. and Israel.

Trump and Netanyahu have openly called for a change of government in Iran and hope to cause its collapse from within. They also want to limit Iran’s nuclear plans, missile stockpile, navy, and the influence of groups like Hezbollah and the Houthis.

The United States and Israel have clear advantages in technology and military strength, while Iran’s regular forces are weaker. Still, Iran uses fewer traditional tactics and continues to threaten to close the Strait of Hormuz. No one knows how it will end.

Alliances in the Conflict:

• The United States and Israel are supported by the Gulf Arab States. Despite being targeted by Iranian attacks, these states remain aligned against Iran.
• Iran is backed by Hezbollah, the Houthis, and a few other allied states.

The main goals are to stop the spread of nuclear weapons, limit Iran’s influence in the region, and protect important energy routes. Market chaos has caused people to sell bonds, raised mortgage costs, led to slow growth and high prices, and sent stocks falling as oil prices remain above $90 per barrel. Recent jumps in energy prices and delayed Federal Reserve rate cuts are still shaking up financial markets.

Sanctuary Cities, Urban Challenges, and Budgetary Issues

Since early 2026, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson have opposed federal immigration enforcement and pledged to sue the Trump administration over funding cuts to sanctuary cities. Johnson has called Chicago an “immigrant sanctuary city on steroids.” He has protested publicly with ICE and Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker and is seeking more funds for migrant services.

Economic troubles, growing disagreements between states, and more problems in California’s sanctuary areas are reaching a breaking point. Some experts blame New York’s huge budget gap, which grew after Mamdani became mayor, on big-spending promises such as his “free everything” campaign. Chicago is now close to a financial crisis similar to the one in 2008. In contrast, 2020-2021 did not show any clear signs of “red states going broke.” Rising immigration, housing, and service costs in blue cities are widely seen as the main reasons for these financial problems.

Energy price jumps from the conflict are making headlines, causing big changes in precious metal prices, raising interest rates, and making investors more cautious. Strong arguments continue about bank actions and the big swings in silver prices in January. Even with all the trouble, the housing market is holding up, with cautious hope for 2026. At the same time, tensions at home are rising as political attention grows on the Epstein files and sanctuary city policies. This week, everyone is watching Iran, the Federal Reserve, and the next inflation numbers.