The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) was down 44.51 (-0.08%) points today, Friday, June 26th, 2026, closing at 51,876.11. The main narrative driving the market was the release of the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) Price Index, which showed inflation remains stubbornly above the Federal Reserve's target. This economic data dampened hopes for summer rate cuts, causing Dow Futures (YM=F) to slide 144.00 (-0.27%) to 52,195.00. Investors remained cautious as the market processed the implications of the inflation report.
Despite the index's slight decline, 3M (MMM) was the biggest gainer, surging 3.70% to $148.62 following a positive legal settlement. Semiconductor powerhouse Nvidia (NVDA) rose 1.77% to $225.00, while Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) climbed 1.61% to $227.63. Other notable gainers included Cisco Systems (CSCO), which rose 1.33% to $100.48, and UnitedHealth Group (UNH), up 1.00% to $399.64, providing a boost to the blue-chip average.
Conversely, IBM (IBM) led the losers, falling 2.42% to $213.40 after issuing a cautious outlook on enterprise spending. Home Depot (HD) dropped 2.14% to $303.84, pressured by concerns over the housing market's sensitivity to high rates. Salesforce (CRM) slipped 1.64% to $168.45, while financial stocks like American Express (AXP) and JPMorgan Chase (JPM) fell 1.27% and 1.12% respectively. These losses reflected a broader pullback in growth-sensitive stocks as the market adjusted to a hawkish economic environment.
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.