Stock market today: Dow, S&P 500, Nasdaq hold near record highs with Powell on deck

Market Overview - US stocks remained stable after a record-setting day, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average increasing nearly 0.3% while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite hovered around the flatline [1] - Stocks experienced a significant jump, marking a third consecutive day of record-high closes, driven by optimism surrounding AI investments and anticipated further easing of Federal Reserve policies [2] Federal Reserve Insights - Chair Jerome Powell's upcoming speech is highly anticipated as it follows the Federal Reserve's first interest rate cut in 2025, which is expected to influence market sentiment [2] - Powell's comments will precede the release of the Personal Consumption Expenditures index, which is the Fed's preferred inflation gauge, with market participants looking for signs of persistent inflation [3] Technology Sector Focus - Micron Technology's quarterly earnings report is expected to provide insights into AI-driven demand, with analysts forecasting nearly a 40% increase in sales [4] - Nvidia's stock surged after announcing a $100 billion investment in OpenAI, highlighting the strong market interest in AI technologies [2]