Dow rises 40 points as Nvidia earnings and inflation data keep markets on edge
Key Points
- Nvidia's earnings report on Wednesday is highly anticipated, with the company reportedly notifying customers of server price increases exceeding 15% for its Vera Rubin and Blackwell chips
- The 10-year Treasury yield fell to 4.7% and the 30-year to 5.23% after the longer-dated yield topped 5.3% last week, its highest level in nearly 20 years
- July PCE inflation data, the Federal Reserve's preferred inflation measure, is due Wednesday and could influence rate expectations, with traders pricing in one 25-basis-point rate hike by end of 2026
AI Summary
Market Summary: Dow Rises Amid Nvidia Earnings and Inflation Concerns
Market Performance:
U.S. markets showed mixed performance on August 24, 2026, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average gaining 47 points while the S&P 500 fell 0.28% and the Nasdaq Composite declined 0.55%. Technology stocks faced continued pressure following a volatile week of rising government bond yields.
Treasury Yields:
Treasury yields eased as the 10-year yield fell 4 basis points to 4.7%, while the 30-year yield declined to 5.23% from levels above 5.3% reached last week—the highest in nearly two decades. The pullback followed reports that the U.S. Treasury may use its General Account to fund bond buyback operations.
Nvidia and Semiconductors:
Nvidia's earnings, scheduled for Wednesday, remain the week's central focus for gauging AI spending strength. The company reportedly notified customers of potential price increases exceeding 15% for servers containing its Vera Rubin and Blackwell chips. Semiconductor stocks broadly declined, with one unnamed stock falling over 5%, alongside losses in AMD and Broadcom. Related AI infrastructure companies including Coherent, Lumentum, SanDisk, Corning, and Seagate also weakened. Marvell Technology reports Thursday.
Inflation and Geopolitical Risks:
The July Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) price index—the Federal Reserve's preferred inflation gauge—will be released Wednesday. Traders have fully priced in one 25-basis-point rate hike by year-end 2026. U.S.-Iran tensions escalated concerns, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent describing planned economic sanctions as "economic D-Day." Oil prices rose on supply disruption fears, heightening inflation worries.
Market Outlook:
High tech valuations combined with persistent inflationary pressures and geopolitical uncertainty are keeping investors cautious ahead of critical data releases and earnings reports.
Model Analysis Breakdown
| Model | Sentiment | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| GPT-5-mini | Bearish | 82% |
| Claude 4.5 Haiku | Neutral | 85% |
| Gemini 2.5 Flash | Bearish | 95% |
| Consensus | Bearish | 87% |