US Stocks Plummet Amid Rate Hike Fears as Apple Options See Heavy Trading

The US stock market experienced a downturn on September 4 as investors grew concerned about interest rate hikes. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by $271.86 to 53,414.25, while the Nasdaq Composite dropped 77.07 points to 26,506.99.

Concerns over rising crude oil prices and strong employment data pushed expectations of a September rate hike higher, leading to selling pressure throughout the session. Semiconductors and semiconductor manufacturing equipment rose, but software & services and automotive & auto parts declined.

In contrast, Apple's stock options chain showed significant activity around the 282.50 strike price for September 4, 2026. The premium on this option was 0.04, with an intrinsic value of $100 and a multiplier of 0.