Fed Chair Powell's Speech Disrupted by Protesters Amid Middle East Tensions

Investors are closely watching Federal Reserve Chair Jay Powell's speech for insights on interest rate moves as tensions in the Middle East, particularly the Israel-Hamas conflict, drive up oil prices. The markets are concerned about the impact of stubbornly elevated inflation on central bank policies and whether interest rates will remain higher for a longer period. Powell's remarks will provide clues on the Fed's outlook on interest rates and its efforts to bring inflation closer to the target of 2 percent. The Middle East crisis has added to market volatility, with the price of Brent, the global oil benchmark, rising nearly 7 percent since the Hamas attack on Israel.