US STOCKS-Wall Street ends up as traders focus on Fed

By Noel Randewich and Johann M Cherian

March 17 (Reuters) - Wall Street ended higher on Tuesday, with gains in Delta Air Lines and other travel stocks, while the Federal Reserve began its two-day policy meeting amid investors' worries about high oil prices and the Middle East conflict.

Shares of airlines and travel companies rebounded from losses in recent weeks related to the U.S. and Israeli attack on Iran and surging energy prices.

Delta DAL.N and American Airlines Group AAL.O gained after both companies raised their revenue guidance for the current quarter.

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings NCLH.N and Expedia Group EXPE.O also rose.

FED POLICYMAKERS WEIGH INFLATION CONCERNS

Concerns of prolonged supply disruptions due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz shipping route have kept crude prices near $100 a barrel. Worries about high oil prices will be in sharp focus as Fed policymakers weigh inflation concerns against signs of a weakening jobs market.

The central bank started its two-day monetary policy meeting on Tuesday and traders expect the Fed to keep borrowing costs unchanged in its decision on Wednesday. Rate futures suggest expectations of one 25-basis-point cut toward the end of the year, according to LSEG-compiled data, down from around two before the war.

"The place where we could get in trouble with this is if the Fed views the oil shock as inflationary and decides to respond with more hawkish monetary policy," said Ross Mayfield, an investment strategist at Baird Private Wealth Management.

"The best-case scenario would be some confirmation tomorrow that the Fed is monitoring the situation, but kind of adheres to what they've done in the past, which is try to look through big oil shocks."

Worries about pricey AI-related stocks, along with uncertainty about the Middle East conflict, have dropped the S&P 500 about 4% from its record high close on January 27.

The benchmark is trading at about 21 times expected earnings, down from over 23 in November, but still above its average forward price-earnings ratio of 19 over the past five years, according to LSEG data.

The Reserve Bank of Australia hiked interest rates for a second straight month, warning of a material risk to inflation due to the Middle East war.

Ride-hailing app Uber UBER.N rallied after announcing plans to roll out robotaxis in 28 cities starting next year, powered by Nvidia's autonomous driving software.

The S&P 500 financials sector index .SPSY rebounded from sharp losses in the week before, when worries about private credit quality rattled investors. Asset managers Blackstone BX.N, Apollo Global APO.N and KKR KKR.N all rose.

According to preliminary data, the S&P 500 .SPX gained 16.95 points, or 0.25%, to end at 6,716.33 points, while the Nasdaq Composite .IXIC gained 106.10 points, or 0.47%, to 22,484.68. The Dow Jones Industrial Average .DJI rose 53.34 points, or 0.10%, to 46,999.75.

Energy companies Occidental OXY.N and ConocoPhillips COP.N rose, tracking higher crude prices.

Honeywell International HON.O dipped after the industrial company said the Middle East conflict could affect its first-quarter revenue.

The conflict has also delayed a planned summit between the U.S. and China on President Donald Trump's request.

Eli Lilly LLY.N fell after brokerage HSBC downgraded the drugmaker to "reduce" from "hold."