Shares of industrial and transportation companies pared their losses as deal activity offset inflation fears.
Water-equipment maker Ecolab is nearing a deal to acquire data-center cooling company CoolIT Systems from KKR for between $4.5 billion and $5 billion.
Office and industrial supplies maker 3M joined forces with investment firm Bain Capital to buy Madison Fire & Rescue for $1.95 billion as part of a deal to form a new fire and safety venture.
FedEx raised its outlook for the full year as revenue and package yields increased in the fiscal third quarter.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the Pentagon planned to request money from Congress to pay for Operation Epic Fury and replenish munitions that have been fired during the nearly three weeks of fighting in the Middle East.
Write to Rob Curran at rob.curran@dowjones.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
March 19, 2026 17:15 ET (21:15 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2026 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.

