Day: September 22, 2026

Markets absorbed the Federal Reserve’s first interest-rate increase since 2023 with relatively limited index-level disruption, but the week reinforced a more demanding investment environment. The Nasdaq Composite gained 0.7%, supported by renewed strength in technology and artificial intelligence-related companies. The S&P 500 was essentially unchanged, declining 0.1%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 1.7% for its third consecutive weekly decline. Mid-cap stocks declined 1.7%, and the Russell 2000 fell 1.5%, illustrating the greater sensitivity of smaller companies to higher borrowing costs, as per Bloomberg data.