Dow Jones hits record as oil falls, but semiconductors slow

The Dow Jones Industrial index closed at a new record on Wednesday, advancing 182.60 points (0.36%) to 50,644.28. The increase was driven by the fall in American crude oil prices, which fell 5.55% and closed at US$88.68 per barrel. The S&P 500 rose 0.02% to 7,520.36, also setting a new record close, while Nasdaq Composite posted a 0.02% gain.

Optimism about a possible ceasefire in Irã was mainly responsible for the fall in oil. Iranian state media stated that the country seeks to restore commercial traffic over Estreito from Ormuz to pre-war levels within a month. Casa Branca, however, denied the information, classifying the report as a “complete fabrication”.

Semicondutores loses steam after accelerated gains

The semiconductor sector, which had soared in the previous session, slowed significantly on Wednesday. Stocks showed mixed performance:

• Micron Technology pulled back from its highs of the day
• Intel closed up 3.6% after soaring more than 19% on Tuesday
• Qualcomm fell 6% on Wednesday
• SK Hynix reached $1 trillion market cap overnight

Micron had soared in the previous session following an upbeat report from UBS, which projected the stock’s value could more than double. The bank pointed to long-term agreements signed by memory suppliers to boost the implementation of artificial intelligence as a determining factor. In 2026, Micron shares more than tripled, as did Intel.

Eric Parnell, chief market strategist at Great Valley Advisor Group, warned of inflated valuations in the sector. “The transformative impact of AI in the coming years and decades cannot be underestimated, but the current valuations associated with many of the semiconductor stocks that provide the computing infrastructure to make all this happen are wildly inflated and far above their potential.” Parnell highlighted that recessionary cycles have historically occurred before in semiconductor stocks.

Leia Tambem

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JPMorgan slows down with prospect of big spending

JPMorgan shares fell 2% on Wednesday following CEO Jamie Dimon’s statement about acquisition plans. The executive stated that the bank could invest up to US$20 billion in an operation “in the next two years”. The announcement weighed on the financial institution’s prices during the session.

The combination of factors — falling oil, mixed performance in semiconductors and caution in the financial sector — shaped the movement of indices on Wednesday. Enquanto and Dow Jones set a new record, the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite showed contained advances, reflecting investors’ selectivity in relation to sectors with greater volatility.