Investors had a lot to consider in New York on Wednesday?enthusiasm about the tech sector brought on by healthy profits helped drive the Nasdaq, but it was not enough to fuel a rally in the broader market, with the Dow ending slightly lower and S&P 500 ending little changed after the Federal Reserve sounded a note of caution on the economy. US crude oil hit a record $89 by midday, before reversing gains to end lower for the first time in seven sessions.