Major US stock indexes closed lower in New York on July 29 as the Federal Reserve left interest rates unchanged and renewed military clashes between the US and Iran drove oil and other commodity prices sharply higher, adding to inflation fears.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 1,153.18 points, or 2.19%, to 51,594.14. The S&P 500 dropped 112.63 points, or 1.52%, to 7,316.15. The Nasdaq Composite lost 433.97 points, or 1.74%, to 24,442.94.

The Dow posted its biggest decline in 15 months, the steepest drop since April 2025, when markets swung sharply after President Donald Trump announced a reciprocal tariff policy in the White House Rose Garden.

Rising yields drove the selloff. The 30-year US Treasury yield climbed above 5.2% for the first time since 2007. The Fed's decision at its regular Federal Open Market Committee meeting to keep the benchmark rate unchanged at 3.50% to 3.75% appeared instead to heighten inflation concerns.

Fed Chair Kevin Warsh struck a hawkish tone, saying there would be "no softened inflation target." Markets focused on the decision to hold rates steady. Three officials — Beth Hammack, Neel Kashkari and Lorie Logan — favored a 25-basis-point rate increase.

Investors viewed the bond market as sending Warsh a warning. So-called bond vigilantes sold Treasuries after his press conference, signaling that the Fed should take a more aggressive stance against inflation.

The jump in oil prices added to those worries. After the US and Iran resumed military exchanges that had briefly paused since the weekend, Brent crude futures surged 7.9% to settle at $90.74 a barrel. West Texas Intermediate crude futures rose 6.6% to close at $84.46 a barrel.

Gold also climbed nearly 2%. Reuters reported that spot gold traded at $4,101.99 an ounce at 2:55 p.m. Eastern time, up 1.9% from the previous session.

The dollar fell sharply despite the surge in Treasury yields. The dollar index, which tracks the greenback against six major currencies, was down 0.5% at 100.94 near the close of New York stock trading.

Han Kyung-woo, Hankyung.com reporter case@hankyung.com