The Dow Jones Index (^DJI) was down 195.04 (-0.40%) points today, currently trading at 49,115.28, while Dow Futures (YM=F) was down 162.00 (-0.33%) points. The primary narrative driving the market this Friday, April 24, 2026, is the release of the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) price index, which showed that inflationary pressures remain stubbornly high. This development has fueled speculation that the Federal Reserve will maintain a restrictive monetary policy for a longer duration, dampening investor appetite for equities across several sectors.
Leading the gainers, Nvidia (NVDA) rose 3.30% to $205.82 as the semiconductor leader continues to capitalize on sustained AI infrastructure demand. Procter & Gamble (PG) surged 3.12% to $150.29, acting as a defensive haven for traders rotating out of more volatile assets. Amazon (AMZN) and Salesforce (CRM) also outperformed the broader index, gaining 1.79% and 1.42% respectively. Additionally, Boeing (BA) was up 0.83% and Nike (NKE) rose 0.82% during the morning session.
On the losing side, healthcare and energy stocks saw the most significant pressure. Merck (MRK) was down 1.98% to $112.32, while Honeywell (HON) dropped 1.48% to $211.39. Chevron (CVX) was down 1.46% to $184.84 as oil prices reacted to global growth concerns. Walmart (WMT) fell 1.32%, and Walt Disney (DIS) was down 1.20%. Financial giants also struggled, with Goldman Sachs (GS) down 1.14% and JPMorgan Chase (JPM) falling 0.69% as the yield curve reacted to the inflation data.
Ed Liston is a senior contributing editor at TheStockMarketWatch.com. An active market watcher and investor, Ed guides an independent team of experienced analysts and writes for multiple stock trader publications.