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World shares retreat as U.S. stocks hit new highs on earnings optimism

10/7/2026

Global equities mostly declined Wednesday after U.S. benchmarks reached record levels Tuesday, driven by optimism over corporate earnings.

The S&P 500 index climbed 0.6% on Tuesday to a record close of 7,818.93, surpassing its previous all-time high set in August.

The index has risen 23% since hitting a trough in late March, despite ongoing concerns regarding the war with Iran, high inflation, and bond market pressures.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.5% to 51,521.28, while the Nasdaq composite gained 0.4% to close at its own all-time high of 27,599.79.