(Il Sole 24 Ore Radiocor) - Milano, 18 mar - US shares were trading lower at midday as investors digested hotter-than-expected inflation data ahead of the Federal Reserve's latest monetary meeting.

The Fed is widely expected to keep interest rates on hold later today when it wraps up what will be Jerome Powell's penultimate monetary meeting before his mandate as chair expires.

With energy prices on the rise due to the war in Iran, investors fear the US central bank may opt to keep rates steadier for longer to head off the threat of inflation.

In data today, wholesale prices rose higher than expected in February.

Meanwhile as US-Israeli attacks on Iran continue and Tehran responds with attacks on energy infrastructure, president Donald Trump said "we no longer 'need,' or desire, the NATO Countries' assistance - WE NEVER DID!".

On the stocks front, shares in Macy's were gaining 4.91% after the department store chain said sales had been lifted by its Bloomingdale's brand.

On the data front, US factory orders rose 0.1% month on month to 620.1 billion dollars in January, matching expectations, the US Census bureau said.

At 1611 GMT, the Dow Jones was down 452.95 points, or 0.96%, at 46,541.89 points.

The S&P 500 was 39.98 points, or 0.60%, lower at 6,676.11 points.

The Nasdaq was losing 135.23 points, or 0.60%, at 22,345.53.

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(RADIOCOR) 18-03-26 17:25:17 (0515) 5 NNNN