12:47 PM EDT, 10/09/2025 (MT Newswires) -- US equity indexes declined with gold futures, while government bond yields traded mixed in midday trading on Thursday.

The Nasdaq Composite fell 0.3% to 22,980.8, with the S&P 500 down 0.3% to 6,733.1 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average 0.4% lower at 46,428.7. All sectors except consumer staples fell intraday, with industrials leading the decliners.

Addressing a community bank conference in Washington via recorded video on Thursday, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell offered no further insights on interest rates. Late on Wednesday, the meeting minutes from the Sept. 16-17 Fed meeting showed division among policymakers on the path and pace of rate cuts, even though most rate-setters were open to voting for additional policy easing.

The probability of the Fed cutting by an aggregate of 50 basis points by the end of this year -- 25 basis points each in October and December -- declined to 80% as of Thursday afternoon from 90% a week earlier, according to the CME Group's FedWatch Tool.

Meanwhile, Israel and Hamas reportedly signed a ceasefire and hostage release deal that is expected to take effect after Tel Aviv ratifies it. The truce is part of efforts to end the deadly war in Gaza.

Gold futures dropped 1.1% to $4,025.61, retreating from an all-time high. Silver futures slumped 1.6% to $48.21, also declining from a record.

Treasury yields were mixed, with the two-year yield up 1.1 basis points to 3.6%.