Wall Street ends mixed ahead of big tech earnings

Wall Street's major indexes oscillated on Wednesday as investors juggled rising crude prices and the US Federal Reserve's decision to hold interest rates steady. The Fed's policy statement revealed a divided decision, sparking uncertainty. Crude prices jumped after the White House confirmed reports of a potential prolonged blockade of Iranian ports. Four major tech companies, Amazon, Alphabet, Meta Platforms, and Microsoft, released quarterly results after the bell. The Philadelphia SE Semiconductor index rose 2.4%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 280.12 points to 48,861.81, while the Nasdaq Composite gained 9.44 points to 24,673.24. Energy stocks led the gainers, while utilities and materials suffered the steepest losses.