// COMPARE

Dow ground out a marginal +0.05% to 50,669, lagging tech-led peers as defensives and rate-sensitives waited for Friday's PCE inflation print before committing.

Dow is the cyclical/value side of the record-high party — without a fresh rotation catalyst, it tracks but doesn't lead. The Iran-deal trade benefits transports and energy unevenly.

PCE inflation Friday — a hot print would hit rate-sensitive Dow components first. 51,000 is the round-number target; support 50,200. Energy weight matters if oil headlines whipsaw.

S&P 500 climbed to 7,563.6 (+0.58%), printing fresh record territory on US-Iran ceasefire optimism. Dell earnings and a Pentagon software deal added a bid; breadth supportive.

Record highs on geopolitical relief plus the AI capex story still funding bids in mega-caps. Microsoft +3.47% on Pentagon deal news shows the institutional buyer hasn't blinked despite bubble chatter.

PCE Friday is the only big macro print. Above 7,600 opens 7,700; failure of 7,500 turns it into a profit-taking session. Watch VIX 15.74 — sub-15 would confirm the all-clear.