Wall Street tumbles as worries about AI trade and high oil prices weigh

Wall Street tumbles as worries about AI trade and high oil prices weigh

By Noel Randewich and Purvi Agarwal

Fri October 16, 2026  

Today, a 3% jump in oil prices combined with serious concerns over debt-laden AI pushed all the indexes straight down in a big way, especially the Nasdaq that lost 572 points and dove 4% for the week, its sharpest fall since June and the S&P its sharpest since January. The AI companies have all cratered under all the debt pressure and the likelihood that all that debt will soon become even more expensive.  

S&P 500 ends higher as traders shift from AI to healthcare

S&P 500 ends higher as traders shift from AI to healthcare

By Noel Randewich and Sruthi Shankar

Thu October 15, 2026  

PPI came in today with the worst increase in 4-1/2 years providing even more fuel to Wednesday’s hot CPI readings on the inflation. This further aggravated all the concerns about inflation, particularly with the AI stocks which, with the prospect of higher interest rates, would be seriously impacted due to their extraordinary debt loads. So there was a rotation back to standard industrials which saw the Dow skyrocket 556 points while the tech indexes both tanked, the Nasdaq diving almost 400 points at open but gradually recovering these losses to even see a little green by close.  

Nasdaq ends sharply lower as hot inflation data stirs rate-hike worries

Nasdaq ends sharply lower as hot inflation data stirs rate-hike worries

By Noel Randewich

Wed October 14, 2026  

The surging costs of gasoline and more took today’s CPI to bigger heights than expected and that sent all of tech into a major downward spiral from the open and steadily down all day. The Nasdaq lost over 500, the S&P nearly 100. This has greatly bolstered bets for a very unwanted October rate hike, up to a whopping 37% in one day vs Wednesday’s 22% vs a mere 17% last Friday, odds doubling in one week.  

Nasdaq ends down as chipmakers fall and bank earnings roll in

Nasdaq ends down as chipmakers fall and bank earnings roll in

By Noel Randewich

Tue October 13, 2026  

The big banks missed estimates in today’s Q3 reporting and that sent all three indexes down, the Dow logically hit the heaviest down 3-digits. But earlier the tech indexes were hit much heavier, the Nasdaq down 130 by noon but then recovering to much more modest losses by close. Ditto for the S&P. What didn’t make sense is that both Citi and Goldman Sachs beat estimates but still fell. And despite expectations of a strong Q3, the S&P is trading at 19x, its lowest multiple in three years.  

Nasdaq falls ahead of earnings, economic data while oil rallies

Nasdaq falls ahead of earnings, economic data while oil rallies

By Sinéad Carew and Ragini Mathur

Mon October 12, 2026  

Because of weekend attacks on Saudi Arabia, the price of oil shot up over $2/barrel which shot the Dow way up and the tech indexes way down. Though an 11^th hour rally allowed the S&P to close flat, both the Dow and Nasdaq moved by 3-digits. But Tuesday begins Q3 reporting so Friday’s big optimistic rally got reversed to some cautionary sell off today not only awaiting big bank results but also new data on consumer and producer inflation as well as retail sales.  

Wall Street posts weekly gains with earnings, inflation data on tap

Wall Street posts weekly gains with earnings, inflation data on tap

By Stephen Culp and Tharuniyaa Lakshmi

Fri October 9, 2026  

All the concerns about inflation, etc went on the back burner today when the markets decided to hang their hat on Q3 optimism with reporting starting with the big banks next week. Right out the gate there was a very substantial rally that shot both the Dow and tech up to very impressive 3-digits again. Trump’s announcement that there will be no more attacks on Iran before the midterms also momentarily relieved war anxieties. All three indexes logged weekly gains and Q3 S&P earnings growth is still expected to top 30%.  

S&P 500, Nasdaq end lower as crude prices jump, chip stocks weigh

S&P 500, Nasdaq end lower as crude prices jump, chip stocks weigh

By Stephen Culp and Tharuniyaa Lakshmi

Thu October 8, 2026  

A combination of oil rigs being shut down as a hurricane precaution plus a smattering of new attacks on oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz has shot oil prices up again and again raised the ugly specter of inflation after a brief pause in the last couple of days. Inflation scares always hit tech the hardest and that was certainly the case today.