Financial News Today: Tech Stocks Slide as Investors Watch Nvidia, Inflation and the Federal Reserve
Wall Street produced a mixed finish Monday as semiconductor stocks declined, oil prices retreated and investors prepared for several potentially market-moving events.
By North American Talk Radio Staff | August 24, 2026
NEW YORK — Technology stocks pulled the broader market lower Monday as investors weighed rising concerns about artificial intelligence spending, new geopolitical tensions and uncertainty surrounding the Federal Reserve’s next interest-rate decision.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 140.15 points, or 0.26%, to close at 53,417.16. The S&P 500 fell 21.51 points, or 0.28%, to 7,652.86, while the technology-heavy Nasdaq Composite lost 200.26 points, or 0.76%, to finish at 25,980.19. The Russell 2000 index of smaller companies declined 0.8% to 2,995.08. (Reuters)
The mixed session reflected a growing divide within the stock market. Technology and semiconductor companies struggled, but financial stocks and several other sectors advanced as falling oil prices and lower Treasury yields provided some relief.
Nvidia earnings put artificial intelligence boom under scrutiny
Nvidia shares dropped 2.9% ahead of the chipmaker’s quarterly earnings report Wednesday. The results could become an important test of investor confidence in the artificial intelligence industry and the companies spending billions of dollars to expand AI infrastructure.
Micron Technology declined 5.8%, while Broadcom fell 2.6%. Those losses helped push the S&P 500 technology sector down approximately 1.6%.
Investors have driven AI-related stocks sharply higher in recent years, often assigning premium valuations based on expectations of rapid revenue growth. Nvidia must now demonstrate that demand for its processors remains strong enough to support those expectations.
The market will also examine Nvidia’s outlook for data-center sales, production capacity, profit margins and demand from major cloud-computing companies. A strong report could restore momentum to semiconductor stocks, while disappointing guidance could deepen concerns that the AI trade has become overcrowded.
Political opposition to large data centers has introduced another source of uncertainty. Communities and elected officials have raised concerns about electricity consumption, water use and the potential effect of new facilities on local power grids.
Financial stocks help lift the Dow
While chipmakers struggled, several major financial companies moved higher and helped the Dow remain in positive territory.
JPMorgan Chase gained 1.4%, while Visa climbed 3%. Financial stocks can benefit when investors expect interest rates to remain elevated, although persistently high borrowing costs can also weaken loan demand and increase pressure on consumers.
Monday’s market breadth remained negative despite the Dow’s gain. Declining stocks outnumbered advancing issues on both the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq, indicating that weakness extended beyond a handful of large technology companies.
Trading volume also remained below the average recorded during the previous 20 sessions, suggesting that some investors stayed on the sidelines before this week’s major economic and corporate announcements.
Federal Reserve and inflation move into focus
Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh is scheduled to deliver a closely watched speech Friday at the Kansas City Fed’s annual economic policy symposium in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
Investors will listen for indications of whether the central bank could raise interest rates again to contain inflation. The Federal Reserve previously left its benchmark rate unchanged at a range of 3.5% to 3.75%, but divisions among policymakers have increased speculation about another rate increase.
Interest-rate expectations have become especially important following a sharp rise in longer-term government borrowing costs. The 30-year Treasury yield recently climbed to its highest level in 19 years, increasing financing costs for the federal government, businesses and prospective homebuyers.
The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note fell Monday to approximately 4.70%. The 30-year yield declined but remained elevated at about 5.23%. (Reuters)
Investors are also awaiting Wednesday’s personal consumption expenditures report. The PCE price index serves as the Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation measurement and could influence expectations for the central bank’s September meeting.
A hotter-than-expected inflation reading could strengthen the case for a rate increase. Softer inflation could give policymakers more room to leave rates unchanged.
Oil prices fall despite renewed pressure on Iran
Oil prices declined more than $2 per barrel Monday even as the Trump administration outlined plans to expand economic pressure on Iran.
U.S. crude oil fell $2.05, or 2.35%, to settle at $85.01 per barrel. Brent crude, the international benchmark, dropped $2.22 to $92.17 per barrel.
Lower energy prices can reduce inflationary pressure and help consumers by limiting increases in gasoline and transportation costs. However, the continuing conflict involving Iran leaves the oil market vulnerable to sudden supply disruptions.
The administration announced that it could expand secondary sanctions against countries and businesses that maintain commercial relationships with Iran. Markets will closely watch whether the policy produces enforceable penalties or materially affects global energy supplies.
U.S.-Canada trade tensions pressure automakers
Investors also reacted to a renewed trade dispute between the United States and Canada.
President Donald Trump threatened to raise tariffs on Canadian cars, trucks and automotive parts to 50% beginning Jan. 1, 2027, after trade negotiations collapsed. Canada has announced plans for retaliatory tariffs on selected U.S. goods beginning Sept. 8.
Ford shares fell 3.3%, General Motors declined 1.1% and transportation company J.B. Hunt dropped approximately 5.7%.
The Canadian dollar weakened 0.56% against the U.S. dollar. Higher automotive tariffs could disrupt deeply integrated North American supply chains, raise vehicle production costs and eventually increase prices for consumers.
Gold rises as investors seek safer assets
Gold climbed to its highest level in more than three months as investors looked for protection from geopolitical risk, inflation and bond-market volatility.
Spot gold gained approximately 1% to $4,647.29 per ounce, while U.S. gold futures rose to $4,670.90.
Gold often attracts buyers during periods of political or financial uncertainty. Expectations surrounding interest rates can also affect prices because the metal does not pay interest. Falling bond yields generally make gold more attractive compared with income-producing investments.
Bitcoin approaches $80,000
Bitcoin traded near $79,000 Monday as the cryptocurrency continued its recovery from a steep decline following its October 2025 peak.
U.S. spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds recorded five consecutive days of inflows totaling nearly $2 billion last week. Those funds, however, remained approximately $2.8 billion in net outflows for the year. (Investopedia)
Renewed ETF demand could provide institutional support for Bitcoin, but the cryptocurrency remains substantially below its previous record above $126,000. Crypto-related stocks produced mixed results Monday, with Coinbase and Strategy advancing while Robinhood declined slightly.
What investors should watch next
Wednesday could become the week’s most consequential day for financial markets because Nvidia’s earnings and the latest PCE inflation data are both scheduled for release.
Warsh’s Jackson Hole address Friday will then offer investors an opportunity to assess the Federal Reserve’s response to persistent inflation, rising government debt costs and volatility in the Treasury market.
Together, those events could determine whether technology stocks regain momentum, interest-rate expectations rise further or investors continue moving toward financial companies, gold and other defensive assets.
