At the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange, the Dow Jones fell by 0.14%, the S&P 500 index dropped by 0.04%, and the NASDAQ Composite index decreased by 0.11%.

The Federal Reserve meeting is scheduled for May 2-3. According to CME Group data, 88.9% of surveyed analysts expect another interest rate hike of 0.25 percentage points from the current level of 4.75-5% annually, while the rest anticipate a pause in the series of increases.

Traders also paid attention to macroeconomic data. The US ISM Manufacturing Business Activity Index in April increased to 47.1% from 46.3% in March, while an increase to 46.7% was forecasted.

Among the leading gainers in the Dow Jones index components at the end of today's trading were shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co (NYSE:JPM), which rose by 2.96 points (2.14%), closing at 141.20. Nike Inc (NYSE:NKE) quotes increased by 1.20 points (0.95%), ending trading at 127.92. Shares of Merck & Company Inc (NYSE:MRK) rose in price by 0.87 points (0.75%), closing at 116.34.

The least gainers were Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC) shares, which fell by 0.76 points (2.45%), finishing the session at 30.30. Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc (NASDAQ:WBA) shares rose by 0.64 points (1.82%), closing at 34.61, while Boeing Co (NYSE:BA) shares dropped in price by 2.91 points (1.41%) and ended trading at 203.87.

Among the leading gainers in the S&P 500 index components at the end of today's trading were shares of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd (NYSE:NCLH), which rose by 8.69% to 14.51, Loews Corp (NYSE:L), which gained 4.45%, closing at 60.13, and shares of NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA), which increased by 4.18%, ending the session at 289.10.

The least gainers were shares of Signature Bank (OTC:SBNY), which fell in price by 15.79%, closing at 0.08. Shares of Newell Brands Inc (NASDAQ:NWL) lost 11.03% and finished the session at 10.81. Global Payments Inc (NYSE:GPN) quotes dropped in price by 8.62% to 103.00.

Among the leading gainers in the NASDAQ Composite index components at the end of today's trading were shares of GD Culture Group Ltd (NASDAQ:GDC), which rose by 1.00% to 31.00, Utime Ltd (NASDAQ:UTME), which gained 223.53%, closing at 2.20, and shares of Baosheng Media Group Holdings Ltd (NASDAQ:BAOS), which increased by 216.84%, ending the session at 16.00.

The least gainers were shares of CBL International Ltd (NASDAQ:BANL), which fell in price by 72.29%, closing at 4.06. Shares of Huadi International Group Co Ltd (NASDAQ:HUDI) lost 57.13% and finished the session at 5.65. TOP Financial Group Ltd (NASDAQ:TOP) quotes dropped in price by 52.39% to 51.52.

On the New York Stock Exchange, the number of declining stocks (1725) exceeded the number of those closing with gains (1239), while the quotes of 97 shares remained virtually unchanged. On the NASDAQ Stock Exchange, shares of 1852 companies fell, 1762 rose, and 131 remained at the previous closing level.

The CBOE Volatility Index, which is based on trading indicators of options on the S&P 500, increased by 1.90% to 16.08.

Futures on gold for June delivery lost 0.46%, or 9.10, reaching the mark of $1,000 per troy ounce. As for other commodities, prices for WTI crude oil futures for June delivery fell by 1.42%, or 1.09, to $75.69 per barrel. Futures on Brent crude oil for July delivery decreased by 1.24%, or 1.00, to $79.33 per barrel.

Meanwhile, in the Forex market, the EUR/USD pair remained virtually unchanged at 0.42%, reaching 1.10, and the USD/JPY quotes increased by 0.89%, reaching the mark of 137.49.

Futures on the USD index rose by 0.49% to 101.90.