Dow, S&P 500 rise at open; Nasdaq lags as traders weigh Iran talks

US stocks opened mixed on Monday, June 22, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average leading gains as investors weighed developments in US-Iran peace talks, a pullback in oil prices and upcoming inflation data that could shape the Federal Reserve’s policy path.

The Dow rose about 0.4%, adding more than 200 points in early trade. The S&P 500 gained 0.2%, while the Nasdaq Composite edged lower by roughly 0.1%, reflecting uneven sentiment across sectors.

Market participants remained focused on geopolitical developments after reports of progress in negotiations between the United States and Iran, which helped ease some concerns over potential disruptions to global energy supplies.

Sentiment around AI remained in focus after SK Hynix overtook Samsung Electronics to become South Korea’s most valuable listed company, marking a notable shift in the global memory chip industry and underscoring strong demand expectations tied to AI infrastructure.

Markets also reacted to news of the death of former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan

, who died at the age of 100. Greenspan led the US central bank through nearly two decades marked by economic expansion and financial market turbulence, shaping monetary policy debates that continue to influence markets today.

Energy markets were volatile, with crude oil retreating sharply after earlier gains. Brent crude futures slipped to around $77 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate futures eased to near $74, as traders assessed signals of a possible roadmap toward a broader agreement.

Among individual movers, Micron Technology advanced around 5% ahead of its quarterly earnings due Wednesday, with investors betting on continued strength in semiconductor and artificial intelligence-related demand. In contrast, SpaceX extended recent losses, falling more than 5% in early trading.

Broader sentiment also remained cautious ahead of the US Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) price index, the Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation gauge, due later this week. Investors are closely watching the data for clues on the trajectory of interest rates following recent hawkish signals from policymakers.