US equities declined on Thursday as major technology equities, notably Alphabet, exerted downward pressure on the broader market. The benchmark S&P 500 decreased 0.3%, while the technology-centric Nasdaq Composite retreated 1.4%, and the blue-chip Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 0.3%. Alphabet’s shares experienced a sharp contraction of 12.5% following the release of disappointing Q3 earnings results. Concerns regarding persistent inflationary pressures were reignited as the Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation gauge, the PCE index, advanced 0.5% in September, representing the largest increase in six months.