Dow hits new high as Nasdaq chips fall ahead of Fed minutes
U.S. markets stayed closed Friday for the observed Independence Day holiday, leaving Thursday’s session as the last trading day before the extended weekend. The NYSE and Nasdaq both show July 3, 2026, as a full market holiday for Independence Day observed, according to the New York Stock Exchange. Holiday trading saw a split finish. The Dow Jones Industrial Average hit a record close, the S&P 500 inched up just 0.01, and the Nasdaq dropped, but all three major indexes still posted weekly gains. Under the surface, more than two-thirds of S&P 500 stocks rose Thursday—suggesting investors rotated out of crowded AI names instead of leaving stocks altogether.