**US Stock Market Performance – February 27, 2026**
The S&P 500 Index is down 0.61%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average has dropped 1.17%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index is down 0.41% as of February 27, 2026. This decline follows the release of January Producer Price Index (PPI) data, which rose by 0.5% month-over-month and 2.9% year-over-year, exceeding forecasts of 0.3% and 2.6%, respectively. Additionally, the February MNI Chicago PMI unexpectedly increased by 3.7 points to 57.7, well above the anticipated drop to 52.1, marking the fastest pace of expansion in over three years.
**Geopolitical and Economic Influences**
WTI crude oil prices have risen over 2% to a six-and-a-half-month high amid ongoing tensions in US-Iran nuclear talks. Key outcomes from these discussions may impact market dynamics, as negotiations are set to resume next week in Vienna. The airline sector is facing downward pressure as United Airlines shares have fallen over 8%, attributed to rising jet fuel prices linked to the increase in crude oil.
**Earnings and Corporate Performance**
In earnings news, Dell Technologies shares surged over 19% after reporting a strong sales forecast for AI servers. Conversely, companies like Zscaler and CoreWeave experienced significant declines in share price following disappointing financial results. Meanwhile, the broader earnings season is nearing its end, with over 90% of S&P 500 companies reporting, and 74% of these have exceeded earnings expectations.
