FX.co ★ US Stocks Close Higher After Volatile Session

U.S. stocks experienced gains on Wednesday, rebounding somewhat from the significant declines observed over the previous four trading days. The market's turbulence stemmed from the release of contentious Federal Reserve minutes and anticipation of Nvidia’s earnings report post-market. The S&P 500 advanced by 0.4%, the Nasdaq 100 improved by 0.6%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average edged up by 0.1%. Nvidia's shares rose by 2.9%, driven by expectations of continued, albeit slower, revenue growth. Investors remain keenly focused on Nvidia’s projections for AI services and data center computing capabilities. Meanwhile, retail performance was varied, with Target dropping 2.8%, while Lowe’s and TJX saw increases. The Federal Open Market Committee minutes highlighted internal disagreements regarding the decision to either maintain or reduce interest rates at the upcoming meeting. The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ decision to postpone the release of the jobs report until after the Fed’s December meeting added further ambiguity to the economic policy outlook, thereby raising the probability of a decision to hold rates steady. This uncertainty, combined with recent surges in tech stocks, resulted in intraday volatility, inconsistent sector performances, and a shift towards safe-haven assets like gold.