We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience.
This includes personalizing content and advertising.
By pressing "Accept All" or closing out of this banner, you consent to the use of all cookies and similar technologies and the sharing of information they collect with third parties.
You can reject marketing cookies by pressing "Deny Optional," but we still use essential, performance, and functional cookies.
In addition, whether you "Accept All," Deny Optional," click the X or otherwise continue to use the site, you accept our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service, revised from time to time.
You are being directed to ZacksTrade, a division of LBMZ Securities and licensed broker-dealer. ZacksTrade and Zacks.com are separate companies. The web link between the two companies is not a solicitation or offer to invest in a particular security or type of security. ZacksTrade does not endorse or adopt any particular investment strategy, any analyst opinion/rating/report or any approach to evaluating individual securities.
If you wish to go to ZacksTrade, click OK. If you do not, click Cancel.
U.S. stocks ended lower on Wednesday for the second straight session, led by a decline in tech and chip stocks, while financial stocks continued to suffer following some mixed earnings reports. All three major indexes ended in negative territory.
How Did The Benchmarks Perform?
The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) declined 0.1% or 42.36 points, to end at 49,149.63 points.
The S&P 500 slid 0.5%, or 37.14 points, to finish at 6,926.60 points. Consumer discretionary, financials and technology stocks were the worst performers.
The Financials Select Sector SPDR (XLF) declined 0.2%. The Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR (XLY) fell 1.6%. The Technology Select Sector SPDR (XLK) lost 1.2%. Six of the 11 sectors of the benchmark index ended in positive territory.
The tech-heavy Nasdaq fell 1%, or 238.12 points, to close at 23,471.75 points.
The fear gauge, CBOE Volatility Index (VIX), was up 4.82% to 16.75. Advancers outnumbered decliners on the NYSE by a 1.85-to-1 ratio. On the Nasdaq, a 1.35-1 ratio favored advancing issues. A total of 22.54 billion shares were traded on Wednesday, higher than the last 20-session average of 16.69 billion.
On the Nasdaq, there were 2,739 new 52-week highs and 2,034 new lows. On the NYSE, there were 518 new 52-week highs and 69 new lows.
Tech Stocks Plunge
Tech stocks took a hit on Wednesday, leading the broader market decline. Semiconductor stocks were the worst hit following a Reuters report, citing people briefed on the matter, that Chinese authorities have told customs agents that Nvidia’s H200 chips are not allowed to enter the country.
Financial stocks extended their losses on Wednesday as investors digested mixed quarterly reports from some banks. Shares of Wells Fargo & Company ((WFC - Free Report) ) tumbled 4.4% despite the company beating on earnings. Wells Fargo & Company reported fourth-quarter 2025 earnings per share of $1.76, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.66 per share.
However, the decline came after the company posted revenues of $21.29 billion for the fourth quarter, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $21.6 billion.
Shares of Bank of America Corporation ((BAC - Free Report) ) also declined 3.8% despite the company posting an earnings beat. Bank of America reported fourth-quarter 2025 earnings of $0.98 per share, outpacing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.95 per share.
Wednesday’s losses come days after President Donald Trump called for a 10% cap for one year on credit card interest rates, which could impact the profits of financial companies.
Geopolitical Tensions Rise
Geopolitical uncertainties also weighed on stocks as tension between the United States and Iran grew. Energy stocks soared on higher oil prices as investors feared supply disruptions owing to the prevailing crisis.
Economic Data
Markets suffered on Wednesday despite some better-than-expected economic data. A delayed wholesale inflation report showed that inflation increased marginally in November. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the Producer Price Index (PPI) rose just 0.2% in November on a month-over-month basis, lower than the consensus estimate of a rise of 0.3%.
Core PPI, which excludes the volatile food and energy prices, also rose 0.2% sequentially in November. Year over year, PPI and core PPI increased 3% and 3.5%, respectively, the highest level since March 2025.
A separate report from the Commerce Department showed that retail sales rose 0.6% month over month in November, higher than the analysts’ expectation of a rise of 0.4%.
See More Zacks Research for These Tickers
Normally $25 each - click below to receive one report FREE:
Image: Bigstock
Stock Market News for Jan 15, 2026
U.S. stocks ended lower on Wednesday for the second straight session, led by a decline in tech and chip stocks, while financial stocks continued to suffer following some mixed earnings reports. All three major indexes ended in negative territory.
How Did The Benchmarks Perform?
The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) declined 0.1% or 42.36 points, to end at 49,149.63 points.
The S&P 500 slid 0.5%, or 37.14 points, to finish at 6,926.60 points. Consumer discretionary, financials and technology stocks were the worst performers.
The Financials Select Sector SPDR (XLF) declined 0.2%. The Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR (XLY) fell 1.6%. The Technology Select Sector SPDR (XLK) lost 1.2%. Six of the 11 sectors of the benchmark index ended in positive territory.
The tech-heavy Nasdaq fell 1%, or 238.12 points, to close at 23,471.75 points.
The fear gauge, CBOE Volatility Index (VIX), was up 4.82% to 16.75. Advancers outnumbered decliners on the NYSE by a 1.85-to-1 ratio. On the Nasdaq, a 1.35-1 ratio favored advancing issues. A total of 22.54 billion shares were traded on Wednesday, higher than the last 20-session average of 16.69 billion.
On the Nasdaq, there were 2,739 new 52-week highs and 2,034 new lows. On the NYSE, there were 518 new 52-week highs and 69 new lows.
Tech Stocks Plunge
Tech stocks took a hit on Wednesday, leading the broader market decline. Semiconductor stocks were the worst hit following a Reuters report, citing people briefed on the matter, that Chinese authorities have told customs agents that Nvidia’s H200 chips are not allowed to enter the country.
Shares of NVIDIA Corporation ((NVDA - Free Report) ) declined 1.4% following the report. Other chip stocks also fell after that. Shares of Micron Technology, Inc. ((MU - Free Report) ) also fell 1.4%, while Broadcom, Inc. ((AVGO - Free Report) ) tumbled 4.2%. NVIDIA has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Financial Stocks Decline on Mixed Earnings
Financial stocks extended their losses on Wednesday as investors digested mixed quarterly reports from some banks. Shares of Wells Fargo & Company ((WFC - Free Report) ) tumbled 4.4% despite the company beating on earnings. Wells Fargo & Company reported fourth-quarter 2025 earnings per share of $1.76, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.66 per share.
However, the decline came after the company posted revenues of $21.29 billion for the fourth quarter, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $21.6 billion.
Shares of Bank of America Corporation ((BAC - Free Report) ) also declined 3.8% despite the company posting an earnings beat. Bank of America reported fourth-quarter 2025 earnings of $0.98 per share, outpacing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.95 per share.
Wednesday’s losses come days after President Donald Trump called for a 10% cap for one year on credit card interest rates, which could impact the profits of financial companies.
Geopolitical Tensions Rise
Geopolitical uncertainties also weighed on stocks as tension between the United States and Iran grew. Energy stocks soared on higher oil prices as investors feared supply disruptions owing to the prevailing crisis.
Economic Data
Markets suffered on Wednesday despite some better-than-expected economic data. A delayed wholesale inflation report showed that inflation increased marginally in November. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the Producer Price Index (PPI) rose just 0.2% in November on a month-over-month basis, lower than the consensus estimate of a rise of 0.3%.
Core PPI, which excludes the volatile food and energy prices, also rose 0.2% sequentially in November. Year over year, PPI and core PPI increased 3% and 3.5%, respectively, the highest level since March 2025.
A separate report from the Commerce Department showed that retail sales rose 0.6% month over month in November, higher than the analysts’ expectation of a rise of 0.4%.