U.S. stocks settled mostly lower on Wednesday, with the Nasdaq Composite falling more than 100 points during the session amid a rise in crude oil prices. Oil prices climbed as the U.S. carried out its 11th consecutive night of strikes on Iran, broadening its targets and stoking fears over the flow of crude through the Strait of Hormuz. The CNN Money Fear and Greed index showed a slight decline in overall market sentiment, while the index remained in the "Fear" zone on Wednesday.

Market Indices

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed lower by around 6 points to 52,218.58 on Wednesday. The S&P 500 fell 0.14% to 7,498.96, while the Nasdaq Composite declined 0.57% to 25,690.90 during Wednesday’s session.

Sector Performance

Most sectors on the S&P 500 closed on a positive note, with utilities, materials, and energy stocks recording the biggest gains on Wednesday. However, communication services and consumer discretionary stocks were among the biggest losers.

Corporate Earnings

On the earnings front, GE Vernova Inc. (NYSE: GEV) shares fell around 9% on Wednesday after the company reported mixed second-quarter financial results. Pegasystems Inc. (NASDAQ: PEGA) shares tumbled 16% after the company reported worse-than-expected second-quarter financial results. AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) stock gained more than 3% on Wednesday after the telecom giant reported second-quarter fiscal 2026 earnings that topped Wall Street expectations. Investors are awaiting earnings results from Honeywell International Inc. (NASDAQ: HON), Lockheed Martin Corp. (NYSE: LMT), and T-Mobile US Inc. (NASDAQ: TMUS) today.

Economic Data

On the economic data front, the volume of mortgage applications surged by 1.9% in the week ending July 17.

CNN Business Fear & Greed Index

At a current reading of 43, the index remained in the "Fear" zone on Wednesday, versus a prior reading of 43.4. The Fear & Greed Index is a measure of the current market sentiment. It is based on the premise that higher fear exerts pressure on stock prices, while higher greed has the opposite effect. The index is calculated based on seven equal-weighted indicators. The index ranges from 0 to 100, where 0 represents maximum fear and 100 signals maximum greediness.

U.S. stocks concluded the first half of 2026 on a strong note, with the S&P 500 securing its best quarterly performance since 2020. The benchmark index gained 0.79% to close at 7,499.36 on Tuesday, finishing the second quarter up 14.9% and the first half with a 9.6% gain. However, traders on Polymarket are betting the index could start the second half on a weaker footing, implying just a 27% probability that the S&P 500 will open higher on Wednesday. S&P 500 futures were modestly lower early Wednesday, slipping 0.38%.

Quarterly and Market Performance

The Nasdaq Composite outperformed, rising 1.52% to 26,213.72, marking a 21.4% surge in the second quarter—its largest quarterly gain since Q2 2020—and a 12% climb in the first half. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 136 points to close at 52,319.20, gaining 12.9% in Q2 and 8.9% in the first half, its best first-half performance since 2021. The table below details the market performance:

Sector Movements and Corporate Movers

Record gains in artificial intelligence and semiconductor stocks powered equities higher during the first half. Chipmakers including Nvidia Corp., Advanced Micro Devices Inc., and Intel Corp. led Tuesday's advance, with Nvidia rising 2.6% and AMD surging 7.7%. The VanEck Semiconductor ETF (SMH) climbed more than 3%. Despite the rally, most sectors on the S&P 500 closed on a negative note, with real estate, utilities, and consumer staples recording the biggest losses, while information technology and industrials were the top performers.

Economic Data and Outlook

Investors are looking ahead to fresh economic data for clues on interest rates. The ADP employment report and ISM manufacturing survey are due Wednesday, followed by the June jobs report on Thursday. A stronger labor market could cement expectations that the Federal Reserve will maintain a restrictive policy stance. On the data front, the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller home price index rose 1.1% year-over-year in April, topping estimates, while the Chicago Business Barometer declined to 56.7 in June. The CNN Money Fear and Greed index improved to 31.3, remaining in the "Fear" zone.