Wall Street closed lower as Middle East tensions and rising oil prices triggered inflation concerns and profit booking. Financials and tech stocks led declines, though chipmakers stayed resilient on AI optimism. Strong services data and steady labor conditions contrasted with geopolitical risks, while expectations for a potential Fed rate hike continued to climb.

US stocks ended mixed as AI-driven optimism supported markets but was offset by rising geopolitical tensions and oil prices. Small-cap and semiconductor stocks gained, while…

U.S. stock futures were mixed on Wednesday, after a record close on Tuesday, as the Dow Jones and S&P 500 advanced but the Nasdaq 100 fell.

US stocks opened lower as rising crude oil prices and renewed Middle East tensions pressured sentiment, after reports of Iranian missile activity near Kuwait and Bahrain. Dow, S&P…