US equities tested fresh highs but struggled to build momentum as investors digested the Federal Reserve’s latest policy decision and a market rally that remained narrowly focused. The S&P 500 briefly crossed the 7,000 level for the first time before retreating to trade near flat, while the Dow was little changed and the Nasdaq edged modestly higher.
The Fed held its benchmark rate steady in the 3.5-3.75% range, as expected, and emphasized that economic activity continues to expand at a solid pace with signs of stabilization in the labor market, even as inflation remains somewhat elevated. Treasury yields moved higher following the statement and Chair Jerome Powell’s comments, which suggested policymakers do not yet view policy as meaningfully restrictive. Futures markets continue to price in the possibility of two quarter-point rate cuts by the end of 2026.
Fed stays on-balance, investors shift focus to earnings
Market strength earlier in the session was driven largely by semiconductors and AI-related names after strong earnings and optimistic outlooks reinforced the durability of AI-driven demand. Seagate surged after beating expectations and highlighting robust AI data storage needs, while ASML reported record orders and upbeat longer-term guidance tied to the AI buildout. Reports that Chinese technology giants received approval to purchase Nvidia’s advanced AI chips further supported the sector, lifting Nvidia and peers such as Micron and Taiwan Semiconductor, and pushing the VanEck Semiconductor ETF to a new 52-week high. Despite these gains, the rally failed to broaden meaningfully beyond chips, leaving the broader index vulnerable as attention shifted to the Fed.
Earnings remain a key near term focus, with results from Microsoft, Meta Platforms and Tesla due after the close, followed by Apple on Thursday. Outside of big tech, Starbucks posted its first traffic growth in two years and beat revenue expectations, though earnings fell short. Market internals showed a mixed picture, with several industrial, energy and semiconductor stocks reaching new highs, including Johnson & Johnson, Northrop Grumman, Lam Research and Micron, while a smaller group of financial services, healthcare and payroll processing names slid to new lows. Overall, the session underscored a market still leaning heavily on AI driven leadership while investors await clearer signals on monetary policy and earnings growth to support a broader advance.
Dow Jones daily chart
Dow Jones FAQs
The Dow Jones Industrial Average, one of the oldest stock market indices in the world, is compiled of the 30 most traded stocks in the US. The index is price-weighted rather than weighted by capitalization. It is calculated by summing the prices of the constituent stocks and dividing them by a factor, currently 0.152. The index was founded by Charles Dow, who also founded the Wall Street Journal. In later years it has been criticized for not being broadly representative enough because it only tracks 30 conglomerates, unlike broader indices such as the S&P 500.
Many different factors drive the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA). The aggregate performance of the component companies revealed in quarterly company earnings reports is the main one. US and global macroeconomic data also contributes as it impacts on investor sentiment. The level of interest rates, set by the Federal Reserve (Fed), also influences the DJIA as it affects the cost of credit, on which many corporations are heavily reliant. Therefore, inflation can be a major driver as well as other metrics which impact the Fed decisions.
Dow Theory is a method for identifying the primary trend of the stock market developed by Charles Dow. A key step is to compare the direction of the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) and the Dow Jones Transportation Average (DJTA) and only follow trends where both are moving in the same direction. Volume is a confirmatory criteria. The theory uses elements of peak and trough analysis. Dow’s theory posits three trend phases: accumulation, when smart money starts buying or selling; public participation, when the wider public joins in; and distribution, when the smart money exits.
There are a number of ways to trade the DJIA. One is to use ETFs which allow investors to trade the DJIA as a single security, rather than having to buy shares in all 30 constituent companies. A leading example is the SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF (DIA). DJIA futures contracts enable traders to speculate on the future value of the index and Options provide the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell the index at a predetermined price in the future. Mutual funds enable investors to buy a share of a diversified portfolio of DJIA stocks thus providing exposure to the overall index.
Source: https://www.fxstreet.com/news/dow-jones-industrial-average-holds-steady-post-fed-despite-some-yield-jitters-202601282038
