12:11 PM EDT, 05/20/2026 (MT Newswires) -- US equity indexes rose ahead of Nvidia's ( NVDA ) quarterly earnings and minutes of the Federal Reserve's last policy meeting, while the Iran standoff continued.

The Nasdaq Composite rose 1.3% to 26,209.7, with the S&P 500 up 0.9% to 7,420.9 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average higher by 1% to 49,860.5 in midday trading on Wednesday.

Consumer discretionary and technology topped the sector charts.

Nvidia's ( NVDA ) fiscal Q1 sales are expected to outperform market projections, with potential for "enhanced" cash returns likely to be among the key areas of focus, BofA Securities said in a note. The brokerage maintained its buy rating on the Nvidia ( NVDA ) stock, with a $320 price objective, citing its "dominance in the fastest growing tech market and its compelling valuation."

Chip stocks steadied ahead of Nvidia's ( NVDA ) earnings, which investors view as a "crucial test of AI demand amid concerns about elevated Treasury yields," according to a D.A. Davidson note.

US Treasury yields fell after midday, with the 30-year down 4.8 basis points to 5.13%, retreating from its highest since 2007. The 10-year dropped 6.6 basis points to 4.6%, also declining from its strongest level in more than a year.

West Texas Intermediate crude oil futures slide 0.8% to $107.77, while Brent crude futures slumped 5.2% to $105.45 as the US awaits the results of negotiations between a trio of Gulf nations and Iran to find a framework for a peace deal.