US stock markets presented a mixed performance on Wednesday, closing with varying degrees of fluctuation. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was calculated at 44,461 points at the close of trading in New York, reflecting a 0.4% decrease compared to the previous day’s figures.
Shortly before the Dow’s close, the broader S&P 500 stood at approximately 6,363 points, down 0.1%, while the Nasdaq Composite, focused on technology stocks, registered at around 23,345 points, a decline of 0.2%.
Despite continued pressure from the US President advocating for interest rate reductions, the Federal Reserve opted to extend the interest rate pause initially implemented in January. Following in the pattern established after previous tariff announcements, the central bank cited ongoing economic uncertainty, persistent but moderated inflation and a remarkably resilient economy as influencing factors in their decision.
Notably, for the first time in over three decades, two members of the Federal Open Market Committee, Christopher Waller and Michelle Bowman, publicly dissented from the committee’s consensus, supporting a 25 basis point interest rate reduction. This divergence is likely to enhance their standing with the President, who will be instrumental in selecting the successor to Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell upon his departure in May 2026.
The euro significantly weakened against the US dollar on Wednesday evening, trading at $1.1424 (-1.07%). Conversely, the dollar was valued at €0.8754.
Gold prices experienced a substantial decline, with a fine ounce trading at $3,270 (-1.6%), equivalent to €92.04 per gram.
Crude oil prices, however, registered a marked increase. A barrel of Brent North Sea crude was priced at $73.63 on Wednesday evening, representing a 1.5% rise compared to the previous day’s closing figures.