U.S. equities closed modestly higher Wednesday but finished off best levels, with gains led by select mega-cap tech (AMZN, NVDA) while defensives lagged. Oil and precious metals moved sharply higher alongside a stronger dollar and slightly higher Treasury yields amid geopolitical headlines, firmer economic data, and a modestly hawkish tilt in the FOMC minutes. Earnings were mixed, with notable moves in ADI and CDNS on the upside and PANW on the downside, as focus shifts to WMT Thursday and a potential SCOTUS tariff ruling Friday.