Wall Street opened the second half of 2026 with mixed trading on Wednesday as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and profit-taking in semiconductor stocks weighed on investor sentiment. 

While the Dow Jones Industrial Average posted modest gains, the NASDAQ Composite fell as chipmakers retreated after a strong first half of the year. Investors also monitored fresh economic data and comments from Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh ahead of this week's US jobs report.

Middle East Tensions and Fed Outlook Keep Markets Cautious

Major US indexes traded unevenly during Wednesday's session as renewed uncertainty surrounding US-Iran relations kept investors cautious. Tehran said it would not meet senior US officials who had traveled to the region after recent hostilities. Meanwhile, sources familiar with the matter and an Iranian official said technical discussions between the two countries took place in Doha, although public statements suggested a broader agreement remained uncertain.

According to Reuters, concerns surrounding the conflict continued to influence financial markets as investors assessed possible effects on global energy supplies. At the same time, traders remained focused on monetary policy after expectations grew that the Federal Reserve could raise interest rates at least once before the end of the year.

Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh also drew attention after speaking at the European Central Bank forum in Portugal. While he avoided offering guidance on the next policy meeting, he said, "we've seen that prices are too high." 

His remarks came after the central bank removed forward guidance from its latest policy statement, leaving markets dependent on incoming economic data.

Separately, the Institute for Supply Management reported that US manufacturing activity slowed in June following stronger growth during the previous month. Investors are now waiting for Thursday's June nonfarm payrolls report for more direction on the health of the labor market.

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Chip Stocks Retreat After a Record First Half

Technology shares led losses across the broader market as investors locked in gains following a powerful rally during the first six months of 2026. The information technology sector declined while several leading semiconductor companies traded lower.

Micron fell about 6%, Sandisk dropped roughly 8%, NVIDIA lost around 2%, and Broadcom also moved lower. Despite the pullback, many of these companies remain among the year's strongest performers after benefiting from continued demand tied to artificial intelligence infrastructure.

The VanEck Semiconductor ETF gained 82% during the first half of 2026, marking its strongest first-half performance since the fund launched in 2000. Market participants said some investors were reducing exposure ahead of the upcoming corporate earnings season.

Shawn Snyder, economic strategist at Potomac Fund Management, told CNBC, "We're in this range where valuations increasingly need to be validated." He added, "I think investors are probably just taking some chips off the table after a really tremendous first half."

Meanwhile, Paul Hickey, co-founder of Bespoke Investment Group, said that semiconductor stocks may be taking a pause after their rapid gains. He said, "Over the long term, we still like the semis, but I wouldn't be aggressive towards it here."

Meta Surges while Corporate Developments Drive Individual Stocks

Meta Platforms climbed about 10% after reports that the company is developing a cloud computing business designed to monetize excess artificial intelligence infrastructure. According to the report, Meta is considering offering hosted AI models or direct access to computing power for external customers.

The report boosted communication services stocks and helped offset part of the weakness seen across the technology sector. Investors viewed the potential business as another way for Meta to generate returns from its growing AI investments.

Elsewhere, Shutterstock dropped nearly 31% after ending its planned merger with Getty Images. Kroger also slipped after announcing a $1.65 billion agreement to acquire regional supermarket chain Giant Eagle.

Despite weakness in several large-cap technology names, smaller companies continued to outperform. The Russell 2000 reached a new all-time high after extending its winning streak to six sessions. Moreover, the small-cap index has gained more than 21% during the first half of 2026 marking its strongest first-half performance since 1991.

As Wall Street moves into the second half of 2026, investors are maintaining optimism around AI-driven growth, with concerns over valuations, interest rates, geopolitical risks, and the upcoming earnings season for clearer market direction.