<div id="readability-page-1"><div><div>U.S. stocks inched higher by midday Wednesday, as traders weighed geopolitical uncertainty and awaited the Federal Reserve's June policy decision.President Donald Trump declined to offer a clear response on whether the U.S. would directly intervene in the escalating Israel-Iran conflict.The Federal Reserve is widely expected to hold rates steady at 4.25%-4.50% for a fourth consecutive meeting. Yet, investor focus is centered on the updated Summary of Economic Projections. Economists anticipate the new dot plot will reflect a median expectation of just one rate cut in 2025—down from two in March—alongside modest upward revisions to inflation and downward adjustments to growth forecasts.<ul> <li>The S&amp;P 500 hovered slightly above the 6,000 mark.</li> <li>The Nasdaq 100 gained over 100 points to trade around 21,860.</li> <li>Small caps outperformed, with the Russell 2000 climbing 1%.</li> </ul>On a sector basis, consumer discretionary led gains, while energy stocks declined, reversing Tuesday's strength.Among megacaps, Visa Inc. V and Mastercard Inc. MA slid after the U.S. Senate passed a bill introducing a regulatory framework for stablecoins. Meanwhile, Coinbase Global Inc. COIN surged 12% to a four-month-high.In the bond market, Treasury yields declined, with the 30-year yield falling to 4.85%. Oil prices dropped 1.8% to $72 per barrel after Trump's noncommittal stance on Iran dented expectations of a supply shock. Gold rose 0.2%, silver slipped 0.7%, and Bitcoin BTC/USD held steady at $104,800.<h2>Wednesday’s Performance In Major US Indices, ETFs</h2>According to Benzinga Pro data:<ul> <li>The Vanguard S&amp;P 500 ETF VOO rose 0.4% to $551.</li> <li>The SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average DIA inched 0.4% higher to $424.77.</li> <li>The tech-heavy Invesco QQQ Trust Series QQQ rose 0.4% to $531.28.</li> <li>The iShares Russell 2000 ETF IWM rallied 1.1% $210.91.</li> <li>The Communication Select Sector SPDR Fund XLC outperformed, up 0.6%; the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund XLE lagged, down 0.6%.</li> </ul><h3>Wednesday’s Stock Movers</h3><ul> <li>Intel Corp. INTC rallied 3.8% after the chipmaker company appointed Greg Ernst as new chief revenue officer as well as three new engineers. </li> <li>Lockheed Martin Corp. LMT dropped 2%, erasing Tuesday's gains, as Trump's comments prompted investors to scale back exposure to defense contractors.</li> <li>Jabil Inc. JBL soared 3.85%, extending all-time highs following Tuesday’s 9% rally amid stronger-than-expected earnings. </li> <li>Wolfspeed Inc. WOLF plunged 17% after announcing plans to enter a prepackaged bankruptcy agreement with lenders, including Apollo Global Management. The company aims to streamline its Chapter 11 process and will seek creditor approval before officially filing.</li> <li>Grail Inc. GRAL surged 12% after reporting encouraging results from its latest cancer detection test.</li> </ul>Now Read:<ul> <li>Mohamed El-Erian Warns Fed’s Path Forward Is Clouded By Trump Tariffs And Israel-Iran Conflict </li> </ul>Image: Shutterstock</div></div></div>

INTC

WOLF

U.S. stocks rose slightly as traders anticipated the Federal Reserve's policy decision, with expectations of steady rates. The S&P 500 remained above 6,000, while the Nasdaq 100 gained over 100 points. Visa and Mastercard fell after a stablecoin regulatory bill passed, while Coinbase surged 12%. Treasury yields declined, and oil prices dropped 1.8%. Notable stock movements included Intel up 3.8% and Wolfspeed down 17% due to bankruptcy plans. Overall, the market is influenced by geopolitical uncertainties and economic projections from the Fed.

- U.S. stocks rose slightly as traders considered geopolitical uncertainty and awaited the Federal Reserve's June policy decision, with rates expected to remain steady.  
- The S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 saw gains, while small caps outperformed, and notable stock movements included Intel's rise and Wolfspeed's significant drop due to bankruptcy plans.  
- In the bond market, Treasury yields fell, oil prices decreased following Trump's comments on Iran, and gold and Bitcoin showed minor fluctuations.

Benzinga

Intel

Wall Street Rises Ahead Of Fed, Payment Stocks Fall On Stablecoin Bill: What's Driving Markets Wednesday?