U.S. stocks declined at the close of trading Wednesday, as the market came under pressure from ongoing geopolitical tensions and rising oil prices, while investors awaited earnings results from major technology companies after the closing bell.

Index

Index Value

Change (points)

Change (%)

52,218.58

(6.06)

(0.01%)

25,690.90

(146.31)

(0.57%)

7,498.96

(10.24)

(0.14%)

25,155.41

144.06

0.58%

8,437.89

74.75

0.89%

10,716.97

131.07

1.24%

24,892.66

(239.63)

(0.95%)

66,115.60

(116.59)

(0.18%)

76,755.05

(715.06)

(0.92%)

At the close, the Dow Jones Industrial Average stood at 52,218 points.

In contrast, the broader S&P 500 index fell 0.14%, or 10 points, to 7,498 points, and the Nasdaq Composite declined 0.57%, or 146 points, to 25,690 points.

Across the Atlantic, the Stoxx Europe 600 index rose 0.58% to 646 points, supported by positive performance from oil and gas companies.

The UK's FTSE 100 gained 1.24% to 10,716 points, Germany's DAX rose 0.58% to 25,155 points, and France's CAC 40 added 0.89% to 8,437 points.

In Japan, the Nikkei 225 fell 0.18% to 66,115 points, while the broader Topix index rose 0.45% to 4,033 points.

Commodity

Price

Change

Change (%)

93.79

2.37

2.59%

86.53

2.20

2.60%

4,128.98

51.55

1.26%

In oil, benchmark Brent crude futures for September delivery jumped 3.36%, or $3.06, to $94.07 per barrel.

U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures for August delivery rose 2.95%, or $2.49, to $86.83 per barrel.

For gold, August gold futures climbed 1.85%, or $75.50, to $4,151.90 per ounce.

What's driving the markets? A sense of anticipation dominated Wall Street ahead of earnings from Alphabet and Tesla, as a surge in oil prices reinforced bets on monetary tightening, while doubts persist about the sustainability of momentum in AI infrastructure investment.