Stock Market News·2025-09-23 18:07Market Overview - U.S. stock markets showed mixed performance on September 23, 2025, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average reaching new intraday records while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite experienced slight declines [1][2] - The afternoon trading session reflected cautious sentiment as investors awaited remarks from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell and upcoming inflation figures [1][2] Major Market Indexes - The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) rose approximately 0.3% to 0.5%, reaching between 46,381 and 46,629 [2] - The S&P 500 (SPX) fell by 0.2% to 0.3%, settling around 6,693 points [2] - The Nasdaq Composite (COMP:IND) declined by 0.1% to 0.4%, trading between 22,726 and 22,788 [2] - Small-cap stocks, represented by the Russell 2000 (RUT), gained 0.6%, reaching new record highs due to optimism for rate cuts and improving domestic economic conditions [2] Sector Performance - The technology sector saw profit-taking, with Nvidia (NVDA) pulling back by 1.3% to 2.1% after a surge driven by a strategic partnership with OpenAI [3] - The aerospace and industrial sectors showed strength, with Boeing (BA) shares rising between 1.8% and 2.8% following Uzbekistan Airways' announcement to acquire Dreamliner aircraft [4] - Kenvue Inc. (KVUE) rebounded by 4.3% to 5.6% after a significant drop due to unsubstantiated claims linking Tylenol to autism [5] - Banking and gold stocks performed well, while retail stocks declined [6] - The energy sector saw gains, with the Philadelphia Oil Service Index up by 5.7% and the NYSE Arca Oil Index up by 2.9% [6] - Gold prices topped US$3,800 per ounce, rising approximately 45% year-to-date due to expectations of Federal Reserve rate cuts and inflation concerns [6] Economic Data and Federal Reserve Insights - The Flash U.S. Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) for September indicated a slowdown in business activity growth, with the composite PMI falling to 53.6 from 54.6 in August [8] - Fed Chair Jerome Powell emphasized the challenges ahead regarding interest rates, with inflation risks tilted to the upside and employment risks to the downside [7] - Upcoming economic data includes the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) Price Index, expected to show a slight acceleration in prices [9] Corporate Earnings and News - Major companies like Micron Technology (MU) and AutoZone (AZO) are set to report earnings, which could influence market sentiment [10] - Oracle (ORCL) appointed new co-CEOs, and Walt Disney Co. (DIS) saw a slight uptick in shares following a show reinstatement [11] - Spirit Airlines (SAVE) is preparing to furlough a significant portion of its flight attendants amid financial difficulties [11] - Google (GOOGL) plans to introduce an AI assistant for mobile gamers to enhance engagement on its platform [11]