Dow rises 635 points on Fed rate-hold hopes, Sep. 3, 2026

U.S. stocks experienced a significant surge on Thursday as investors grew optimistic about the Federal Reserve's potential decision to keep interest rates unchanged at their upcoming meeting. Following remarks from Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller, the Dow Jones Industrial Average saw a 635-point increase, marking the index's strongest single-session performance since August 4.

The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite also gained, with the latter climbing 1.3%. Waller's comments suggested he would be inclined to support holding interest rates steady, provided there were no surprises in the upcoming inflation data. Consequently, the 10-year Treasury yield dropped to around 4.75%, down from its highest level since November 2023.

The share of futures traders pricing in a rate hike at the central bank's meeting fell to 50.4%, down from 63.2% the previous day, according to CNBC. Waller's statement also contributed to a decline in the yen, which traded 2% stronger against the dollar at 155.36. The S&P 500 rally spanned across most sectors, with consumer stocks leading the gains.

Notably, Snowflake stock surged more than 20% after surpassing earnings and revenue estimates, while Broadcom fell 4% after its latest quarterly results fell short of analyst expectations. Oil prices continued their upward trend, with West Texas Intermediate crude futures trading above $91 per barrel and Brent futures surpassing $95.

Oil has risen for four consecutive sessions, driven by tensions in the Middle East and outweighing remarks from former President Donald Trump regarding the duration of U.S.-Iran conflicts. Rising crude prices have exerted upward pressure on Treasury yields in recent sessions, as higher energy costs fuel inflation concerns.