US markets end lower despite positive economic cues

26 Sep 2025 Evaluate

The US markets ended lower on Thursday as uncertainty about the outlook for interest rates continue to weigh on investors’ sentiments. Further, traders paid no heed to report released by the Labor Department unexpectedly showed an extended pullback by first-time claims for U.S. unemployment benefits in the week ended September 20. The Labor Department said initial jobless claims fell to 218,000, a decrease of 14,000 from the previous week's revised level of 232,000. Meanwhile, street had expected jobless claims to inch up to 235,000. Moreover, market participants overlooked the report released by Commerce Department showing an unexpected surge by durable goods orders in August as well as much stronger than previously estimated GDP growth in the second quarter. They were also waiting for release of Commerce Department’s report on personal income and spending in August, which includes the Fed's preferred readings on consumer price inflation, for further clues.

On the sectoral front, significant weakness has been seen in Airline stocks with the NYSE Arca Airline Index tumbling by 2.9 percent to its lowest closing level in over a month. Besides, pharmaceutical stocks moved lower with the NYSE Arca Pharmaceutical Index slumping 2.0 percent.

Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 173.96 points or 0.38 percent to 45,947.32, S&P 500 declined 33.25 points or 0.5 percent to 6,604.72 and Nasdaq slid 113.16 points or 0.5 percent to 22,384.70.

© 2025 The Alchemists Ark Pvt. Ltd. All rights reserved. MoneyWorks4Me ® is a registered trademark of The Alchemists Ark Pvt. Ltd.

×