NEW YORK, May 27, 2026, 11:01 EDT
- The Dow moved up during regular U.S. hours. The S&P 500 was flat. The Nasdaq fell.
- Blue-chip stocks held up as oil prices slipped and Treasury yields pulled back. But traders stayed wary with Middle East talks and inflation numbers in view.
- Analysts expect more gains into year-end, but rates, energy prices, and the AI trade are still pressure points.
Dow Jones climbs 0.5% as blue chips draw buyers; S&P 500, Nasdaq lag The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up about 0.5% near 50,700 late Wednesday morning, pulling ahead of a flat S&P 500 and a weaker Nasdaq as money moved into blue chips and out of some tech trades. Live market data showed the Dow gaining 251 points to 50,712.84. The S&P 500 was just positive, while the Nasdaq slipped 0.1%.
The change comes as U.S. stocks trade near record highs, not after any big drop. Trading resumed following Memorial Day; the NYSE session runs 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET. Nasdaq’s 2026 calendar had May 25 as the holiday, not May 27.
The Dow is a price-weighted index. That lets higher-priced stocks swing it more than ones with lower prices, even if those companies aren’t the biggest by market cap. S&P Dow Jones Indices calls it a price-weighted index of 30 U.S. blue chips, large and established companies.
Dow Jones rose 174.37 points, or 0.35%, to 50,642.33 as of 9:57 a.m. ET, Reuters said. The S&P 500 was up 0.03%, Nasdaq dipped 0.01%. Consumer discretionary shares were out front in the S&P, while energy dropped with oil, and tech stocks dropped back after hitting a record Tuesday. Nancy Tengler, CEO and CIO at Laffer Tengler Investments, said she was “a little bit concerned” the market could “test” after earnings season as attention shifts to the Fed and Middle East. Reuters
Oil prices fell. Brent crude dropped 3.8% and U.S. crude fell 4.5% at about 10:30 a.m. ET, according to AP, as traders saw some optimism for the Strait of Hormuz reopening. That move lifted shares of fuel-heavy firms like United Airlines and Norwegian Cruise Line, but weighed on oil majors Exxon Mobil and Chevron.
The Dow picked up ground, but less from tech stocks than during the rally of the past few weeks. On Tuesday, the S&P 500 and Nasdaq finished at all-time highs. Wednesday, high-growth shares eased while investors stuck with old-economy and consumer names.
Inflation is up next for markets. Traders are looking ahead to Thursday’s personal consumption expenditures price index, the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge. Investors, who started the year betting on cuts, are now asking if rates might stay higher or jump again.
S&P 500 is seen reaching 7,620 by year-end 2026, with the Dow at 52,500, according to a Reuters poll of 47 strategists, analysts and portfolio managers. The Dow closed at 50,461.68 on Tuesday. Anthony Saglimbene, chief market strategist at Ameriprise, pointed to “AI secular tailwinds” but also noted “higher energy prices” and “rates moving higher.” Chris Zaccarelli, chief investment officer for Northlight Asset Management, said the “AI arms race” could lift prices in the near term. Reuters
The catch is simple. If Middle East talks break down, oil could jump higher, yields could go up, and Thursday’s inflation numbers could push stocks lower. Those stocks have already bet on a solid earnings run and lasting AI demand. The Dow’s defensive slant might help in that setup, but it wouldn’t shield the index entirely.
