S&P 500, Nasdaq end lower as crude prices jump, chip stocks weigh - Reuters

U.S. equities finished lower on the session, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite both closing in the red. Two forces shaped the day: a jump in crude oil prices and weakness in semiconductor shares.

Rising crude matters for markets because energy costs feed into inflation and household spending. Higher oil can pressure transport, input, and consumer costs, which in turn can influence expectations for interest rates. Chip stocks carry outsized weight in the Nasdaq, so their declines can drag the index even when other sectors hold steadier. The combination left major benchmarks unable to hold gains.

For observers, the takeaway is not a single day's move but the direction of these inputs. Watch whether crude's rise persists, since sustained energy strength could shift the inflation and rate outlook. Watch chip shares too, given their sensitivity to demand and supply news and their heavy index weighting. Together, energy and semiconductors often set the tone for broader risk appetite.