The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) was down 160.45 (-0.31%) points today, trading at 51,703.24. Similarly, Dow Futures (YM=F) showed weakness, down 174.00 (-0.33%) points to 52,105.00. The primary narrative driving the market on this Wednesday, September 23, 2026, is a cooling of sentiment in the technology and retail sectors, as investors weigh the impact of sustained interest rates on corporate spending. While some industrial and healthcare names found footing, the broader index faced pressure from heavyweights in the software and home improvement spaces.
Leading the gains, 3M (MMM) was up 3.70% to $148.62 following positive manufacturing updates. Nvidia (NVDA) rose 1.77% to $225.01, while Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) gained 1.61% to $227.63. Cisco (CSCO) and UnitedHealth Group (UNH) also performed well, up 1.33% and 1.00% respectively. Other contributors included Boeing (BA), up 0.61%, and Goldman Sachs (GS), which rose 0.58% to $948.64. These moves suggest a defensive rotation as market volatility persists.
Conversely, IBM (IBM) was down 2.42% to $213.40, leading the losers after a cautious outlook on enterprise spending. Home Depot (HD) fell 2.14% to $303.85, while Salesforce (CRM) was down 1.64% to $168.45. Other notable decliners included Sherwin-Williams (SHW), down 1.36%, and American Express (AXP), down 1.27%. Caterpillar (CAT) also slipped 1.22%, while JPMorgan Chase (JPM) was down 1.12%. This downward pressure on consumer-facing and software stocks reflects growing concerns over the macroeconomic trajectory for the fourth quarter.
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.