Wall Street Pauses After Record Run as Tech Stumbles, Energy Shines

Market Overview - U.S. equities experienced a pullback on September 24, 2025, after a multi-day rally, with major indexes drifting lower as investors took profits and digested comments from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell regarding elevated asset valuations [1][3] - The S&P 500 was down 0.3% to close at 6,656.92, following a 0.6% decline on Tuesday, while the Nasdaq Composite fell 0.4% to 22,573.47, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average decreased by 0.2% to 46,292.78 [2] Sector Performance - The Energy sector rose by 2% on September 24, supported by a 2% increase in West Texas Intermediate crude oil futures, which reached $64.75 per barrel [4] - The Information Technology and Materials sectors were among the worst performers, both down approximately 1% in afternoon trading, reflecting a broader pullback in growth-oriented assets [5] Company News - Micron Technology (MU) saw a decline of roughly 4% despite reporting record quarterly sales, attributed to profit-taking after a substantial year-to-date gain of 97.7% [13] - Alibaba (BABA) shares surged nearly 9% after announcing plans to increase its AI infrastructure budget beyond $53 billion, indicating strong investor interest in AI investments [13] - Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) plummeted over 10% after lowering its third-quarter sales outlook for copper and gold, alongside a tragic incident in Indonesia [13] - Boeing Co. (BA) gained 2% following an $8 billion agreement to deliver 22, 787 Dreamliners to Uzbekistan Airways [13] - uniQure (QURE) experienced a remarkable surge of 241% after releasing positive results from its Huntington's gene therapy [13] - Nike (NKE) shares are trading just under $71, with analysts anticipating significant price increases ahead of its upcoming quarterly update [13] - Adobe (ADBE) shares fell after a downgrade from Morgan Stanley to 'Equal-Weight' [13] Upcoming Market Catalysts - Investors are monitoring the upcoming release of the U.S. core Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) price index on September 26, which is a key inflation gauge [7] - Flash Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) surveys and revised U.S. GDP numbers are also on the economic calendar, providing insights into economic growth and inflation trends [7][9]