U.S. stocks were lower after the close on Wednesday, as losses in the Telecoms, Utilities and Consumer Goods sectors led shares lower. At the close in NYSE, the Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 0.

Dow Jones futures jumped 500 points Thursday after the big Fed rate cut Wednesday. Nvidia and Tesla rallied to key levels.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) has pulled into Wednesday’s midrange near 41,500 as investors await the Federal Reserve's (Fed) first rate cut in over four years. Markets kicked off 2024 hoping for an initial rate cut in March, but have thus far been battled all the way back to Q3. Now it finally looks like the Fed is ready to play ball.

As the Fed gears up for a potential rate cut, US stocks hold steady. Learn how this key decision could influence the Dow Jones and Nasdaq indices today.

There Are 4 Dividend Kings That Are Also in the Dow Jones Industrial Average. Here's Why 3 of Them Just Hit All-Time Highs.

The Dow Jones spent early Thursday in the doldrums, holding on the low end despite an overall uptick in US equity markets. The index waffled below 40,750 before catching a late break into the high side, returning to challenge the 41,000 key price level once more.

So if the earnings growth rate of Nasdaq stocks slows due to a downturn in the business cycle or any number of unforeseen factors, the Nasdaq could continue underperforming the S&P 500 because it is valued more on future earnings than historical earnings.