S&P 500, Nasdaq end down on tech stocks, investors weigh Iran moves

Markets experienced a decline on Monday, Aug 24, as tech stocks led the downturn. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq ended the day lower due to investors considering potential U.S. economic pressure against Iran and awaiting a week that includes Nvidia earnings and a crucial inflation report. The Trump administration proposed expanding sanctions on countries dealing with Iran, but did not enforce penalties.

Chip stocks, including Nvidia, Micron Technology, and Broadcom, suffered losses, dragging the S&P 500 Information Technology index down. Political opposition to artificial intelligence data centers also impacted the sentiment for technology firms. Texas Governor Greg Abbott endorsed this trend, stating that data centre companies "dug their own grave" and deserved the backlash they faced due to a lack of community support.

Financials, such as JPMorgan Chase and Visa, managed to gain, contributing to the resilience of the Dow Jones Industrial Average. The 30-year U.S. Treasury yield remained above the 5% threshold despite Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent exploring options to fund bond buybacks using the department's near US$1 trillion General Account.

The upcoming Federal Reserve chair Kevin Warsh's speech at the Jackson Hole symposium and the release of the Personal Consumption Expenditures report, the Fed's preferred inflation gauge, will be closely monitored by investors.