The Dow fell today primarily due to a combination of higher-than-expected inflation concerns, persistent uncertainty around Federal Reserve policy, and headlines surrounding tariffs and geopolitical developments influencing risk appetite. Broad market selloffs were led by pressure in megacap tech names and cyclical stocks, contributing to the index’s sizable drop intraday and at the close.

Key drivers observed today

• Inflation and policy path: Mixed economic data kept traders wary that the Fed may maintain higher-for-longer interest rates, weighing on equities, especially growth-sensitive names.

• Tech and growth losses: The tech sector led declines, amplifying broader market weakness as investors rotated away from high-valuation names into perceived safer assets.

• External headlines: tariff threats and geopolitical flare-ups created additional risk-off sentiment, pressuring risk assets across indices.

What to watch next

• Fed communications and minutes: Any new guidance on rate trajectories or balance sheet adjustments could move the market in the near term.

• Inflation data: Upcoming CPI/PPI readings and wage data will influence expectations for monetary policy and equity valuations.

• Earnings and forward guidance: Results from heavyweight names and AI-related or energy sectors could shape the market's rotation and volatility.

If you’d like, I can pull the latest articles and summarize the specific reasons stock-by-stock or sector-by-sector for today’s Dow moves, or tailor a brief trading-oriented overview for your portfolio.