U.S. equities opened the week mixed on Monday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average rising modestly while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 retreated.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced 0.4% to 53,471 points, supported by gains in blue-chip shares. The broader S&P 500 fell 0.3% to 7,654 points, and the technology-heavy Nasdaq 100 dropped 1.4% to 28,903 points, pressured by weakness in semiconductor stocks.
Negative sentiment from Asian markets, alongside upcoming quarterly earnings from Nvidia and speculation over potential price hikes due to rising costs in AI chip production, weighed on the global semiconductor sector. Geopolitical tensions between the U.S. and Iran further unsettled investor confidence.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is scheduled to announce what he described as the 'harshest sanctions in history' against Iran in a press conference on Monday. The measures aim to compel Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping route for global oil supplies. Iran has warned of severe consequences in response to what it termed an economic war.
Investors will also focus on the Federal Reserve’s annual Jackson Hole symposium, beginning Thursday, where Fed Chair Kevin Warsh is expected to deliver remarks. Market participants are seeking signals on the central bank’s future interest-rate path amid elevated oil prices and rising bond yields. Analysts noted that the tone of Warsh’s comments—whether emphasizing inflation concerns or bond-market stability—could influence near-term policy expectations.
