On the afternoon of the 23rd (Korea time), major indexes on the New York Stock Exchange are declining in unison. The Nasdaq, which hit a record high the previous day, has turned lower, while the Russell 2000 index, centered on small- and mid-cap stocks, is posting the steepest decline among major indexes.

As of the afternoon of the 23rd, Korea time, the Dow Jones Industrial Average stood at 51,658.13, down 175.54 points (0.34%) from the previous session. It rose as high as 51,843.15 intraday but failed to sustain its upward momentum. The S&P 500 fell 27.92 points (0.36%) to 7,733.66, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite dropped 147.26 points (0.54%) to 27,088.84. The Russell 2000 fell 30.32 points (1.05%) to 2,858.15, marking the largest decline among major indexes.

Across the market, selling pressure has spread from large-cap tech stocks to small- and mid-cap stocks, somewhat dampening investor sentiment.

Two factors are influencing the market today: the progress of U.S.-Iran negotiations and the possibility of additional tightening by the Federal Reserve are simultaneously at play. As the United States and Iran resume talks on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, expectations have formed that concerns over Middle East oil supply disruptions could ease, but wariness persists as investors await the outcome of the negotiations. President Trump has positively assessed the meeting between the two sides.

Going forward, the key variables shaping intraday movements are expected to be further news on Middle East negotiations, U.S. interest rate movements, and the direction of large-cap tech stock prices.

As trading is still in progress, index levels and percentage changes may continue to shift. Given the widening volatility, the market's direction should be closely monitored until the close.

[The index figures cited in this article are intraday values as of the afternoon of the 23rd, Korea time, and are subject to change. This is not investment advice; investment decisions and responsibilities rest with the investor. AI provided partial assistance in the writing of this article.]