As the Federal Reserve kicked off its two-day policy meeting, Wall Street’s major indexes climbed higher, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average leading the charge. While investors braced for the central bank’s interest rate decision, chipmaker Nvidia’s unveiling of its latest AI offering further fuelled excitement in the growing artificial intelligence sector.

In a noticeable step back from their recent highs, both the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite took a step back on Wednesday, indicating a decreasing enthusiasm in the tech sector, particularly marked by a decline in Nvidia shares.

In a noteworthy shift, global stock markets edged lower, marking a departure from the recent tech-driven highs that had pushed major indices to record levels. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite experienced downturns, as the successful rally in technology stocks began to lose steam.

Wall Street saw a modest uptick with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite climbing higher, hinting at investor optimism amid a complex backdrop of economic indicators and corporate news.

The stock market took a hit after a period of strong gains, countering the recent excitement around artificial intelligence and positive investor sentiment. Big tech companies, especially Apple, saw their stock prices fall, which dragged down the Nasdaq Composite.

Monday saw a retreat in the S&P 500 as investors shifted focus to key inflation data, with the index stepping back from its recent record highs. The Dow Jones Industrial Average edged lower by 0.1%, while the S&P 500 experienced a 0.3% decline, and the Nasdaq Composite slipped 0.1%. Notably, Amazon made its debut in the 30-stock Dow, replacing Walgreens Boots Alliance, a move expected to reshape the index’s composition and amplify its exposure to the tech and consumer retail sectors.

Markets exhibited a complex range of highs and lows, navigating through a mix of record-setting achievements and underlying economic uncertainties. The S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average both notched fresh records, underscoring the robust appetite for risk among investors, lifted by a combination of corporate earnings beats and positive economic indicators.

The global stock markets displayed a notable equilibrium amid escalating inflationary pressures. The S&P 500, touching on historic highs, ultimately settled with a slight decline. In contrast, the Nasdaq Composite held its ground, closing unchanged, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average managed a modest gain, reflecting a broader sense of resilience in the face of economic uncertainties.

The current financial landscape is dominated by two significant phenomena: the robust recovery in oil prices and the fluctuating behaviour of the US dollar. These elements are crucial in dictating the flow of commodities, currencies, and broader market strategies.