Nasdaq sets record high, oil dips on improved crude flows

Nasdaq sets record high, oil dips on improved crude flows

By Karen Brettell

Tue September 21, 2026  

The AI relief train continued running today as demand “showed no signs of abating and corporate earnings stayed resilient.” This combined with oil flows from Saudi Arabia increasing and the 10-year yields decreasing sent the Nasdaq to another triple-digit gain and another record. There was also hope when Iran said it could open the Strait of Hormuz in as little as a week but this was conditional on Trump backing off and who knows if that will happen.  

Nasdaq notches record-high close, AI optimism reignites and Treasury yields retreat

Nasdaq notches record-high close, AI optimism reignites and Treasury yields retreat

By Noel Randewich and Johann M Cherian

Mon September 21, 2026  

After last week’s drubbing, the markets went into high gear today with the price of crude dropping below the psychologically important $100/barrel mark and yields dropping below the psychologically important 5% mark. The Nasdaq marked its first record since its all-time high June 2^nd and the S&P closed within a whisper of its August 13^th record. New data suggesting that AI spending is expanding despite recent warnings sent tech way up.  

S&P 500, Nasdaq advance, turning the page on a tumultuous week

S&P 500, Nasdaq advance, turning the page on a tumultuous week

By Stephen Culp and Niket Nishant

Fri September 18, 2026  

It was certainly a very volatile day as all three indexes dipped well into the red in the morning, the Dow down almost 300 by 12:30, then all three began a rebound with the Dow recapturing most but not all of its losses by close, but tech actually making it a bit into the black. The Nasdaq especially gained over 100 as investors continue to digest inflation data and the first Fed rate hike in years while trying to determine the next steps. What likely helped tech was the Chinese serving as an intermediary with Iran to try to stop the attacks on Saudi Arabia and its oil routes.  

Tech leads Wall St to higher close as oil eases, Treasury yields dip

Tech leads Wall St to higher close as oil eases, Treasury yields dip

By Stephen Culp and Tharuniyaa Lakshmi

Thu September 17, 2026  

Yesterday’s news of the Saudis sending oil through Oman helped ease fears of a deepening fuel shortage which brought crude down and subsequent Treasury yields. And because of the slaughter the markets have recently endured, there was some bargain hunting going on too, all which combined for massive 3-digit gains all around which began right out the gate and stayed there steadily all day. As one might also guess, the recent panic in equities has translated to gold and silver mining stocks being the outperformers, advancing more than 3%.  

Wall St ends lower after Fed hikes interest rates, sees more tightening ahead

Wall St ends lower after Fed hikes interest rates, sees more tightening ahead

By Stephen Culp and Tharuniyaa Lakshmi

Wed September 16, 2026  

Robust retail sales provided a bit of a lift to all the indexes this morning and that combined with Saudi Arabia allowing tankers through via Oman kept everything steady. It had the desired effect on the price of crude which dropped 3% and also brought the chip index up 0.6%.  Then at 2 pm, everything dropped like a rock as it was likely at 2 pm that the Fed announced the first rate hike in more than three years along with the announcement that this would be only one of several more coming.  

Wall Street ends lower as oil spikes and the benchmark Treasury yield breaches 5%

Wall Street ends lower as oil spikes and the benchmark Treasury yield breaches 5%

By Stephen Culp and Tharuniyaa Lakshmi

Tue September 15, 2026  

Yesterday was a straight shot down rout in the morning followed by a 50% recovery in the afternoon. Today it was just straight down right out the gate and stayed there all day, 3-digit losses all around. Today’s expert pointed out three problems – “Given rising prices for fuel, especially diesel, given the near-certain outlook for rising rates beginning tomorrow, and given the concerns over the potential slowdown in the AI ecosphere, why step into the market aggressively until some of this clears up?” Indeed, the odds of a rate hike tomorrow are now at 95% vs 33% a few weeks ago.  

Stocks fall as oil and bond yields rise

Stocks fall as oil and bond yields rise

By Amanda Cooper and Chibuike Oguh

Mon September 13, 2026  

With the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz only deepening, oil shot up another 1% today bringing the total increase over the past week to 10%. Diesel is breaking records being far higher than before the war and sending bond yields higher still, making a direct hit on consumer pocketbooks. But the really big problem is all the AI uncertainty, especially with several CEOs this weekend warning of the perils of AI, that we’re spending too much, moving too quickly. Since investors have been so nervous of late over AI overspending, you’d think these comments would be greeted with glee but instead drove the whole tech sector down. The Nasdaq was down around 350 in the morning but recovered more than half of that by close. Same was true of the Dow, down some 300 by 11 a.m. but recovering half by close.