U.S. Stock Indices Show Mixed Performance Amid Middle East Tensions

U.S. stock indices displayed mixed results as uncertainties in the Middle East persisted. According to RTHK, U.S. President Donald Trump issued a new threat to Iran, stating that if Iran does not open the Strait of Hormuz, the U.S. will target Iran's oil wells and power plants. Meanwhile, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell noted that the current energy shock's impact is still uncertain, and the Federal Reserve does not need to take immediate action as inflation expectations appear stable, with authorities closely monitoring the situation. The Dow Jones Industrial Average stabilized after two consecutive days of decline, initially rising by about 460 points before briefly turning negative. It closed at 45,216 points, up 49 points, or 0.11%. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq indices initially rose but then fell, marking three consecutive days of decline and reaching their lowest closing levels in nearly eight months. The S&P 500 closed at 6,343 points, down 25 points, or nearly 0.4%, while the Nasdaq ended at 20,794 points, down 153 points, or over 0.7%. Memory chip stocks experienced sharp declines, with SanDisk, Western Digital, and Micron falling between 7% and nearly 10%. Major technology stocks showed varied performance, with Nvidia dropping over 1%, Tesla nearly 2%, and Intel 4.5%, while Microsoft and Amazon rose by nearly 1%.