Dow Jones Today

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) was down 352.10 (-0.68%) points today, Wednesday, September 23rd, 2026, closing at 51,511.59. Market sentiment turned cautious as investors reacted to a surprise uptick in August’s core inflation data, which fueled concerns that the Federal Reserve may maintain elevated interest rates longer than previously anticipated. This hawkish narrative pressured growth-oriented sectors and heavy industrial components, while Dow Futures (YM=F) also signaled broader unease, falling 402.00 (-0.77%) points.

Despite the broader decline, 3M (MMM) emerged as the session's top performer, surging 3.70% to $148.62 following a positive settlement update regarding legacy litigation. Tech-adjacent names showed resilience, with Nvidia (NVDA) gaining 1.77% to $225.01 and Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) rising 1.61% to $227.63. Defensive positioning was evident as Cisco Systems (CSCO) and UnitedHealth Group (UNH) posted gains of 1.33% and 1.00%, respectively, as traders sought safety in established cash flows.

Conversely, the tech and consumer discretionary sectors faced significant headwinds. IBM (IBM) led the laggards, tumbling 2.42% to $213.40, while Home Depot (HD) dropped 2.14% to $303.85 on fears that persistent inflation will dampen the housing market. Other notable decliners included Salesforce (CRM), which fell 1.64%, and American Express (AXP), sliding 1.27%. The financial sector remained under pressure throughout the day, with JPMorgan Chase (JPM) shedding 1.12% as the yield curve reacted to the shifting economic outlook.