Wall St slips as Middle East uncertainty lifts oil; Trump-Xi talks in focus
Wall Street’s main indexes dropped on Thursday as uncertainty over prospects for a resolution to the Middle East conflict lifted oil prices and Treasury yields, keeping risk appetite in check ahead of a keenly watched US-China summit. US and Iran leaders exchanged barbs at the UN General Assembly this week, which sent Brent crude prices back to above $100 a barrel. A potential ban of US diesel…
Wall Street’s main indexes declined on Thursday due to Middle East conflict uncertainty pushing oil prices and Treasury yields up, reducing risk appetite ahead of a crucial US-China summit. Tensions between US and Iran leaders at the UN General Assembly lifted Brent crude prices back above $100 per barrel, adding to investor caution.
A proposed ban on US diesel exports further weighed on risk-taking. Technology stocks suffered on the S&P 500, with chipmakers like Nvidia, Broadcom, and Micron dropping over 1% each. Oracle lost 5.5% after reportedly sending a 'force majeure' notice to a New Mexico data center. Shares in Blue Owl, the project’s developer, fell 5%.
Higher Treasury yields, hitting their highest level since 2004 for the 30-year bond, pressured riskier assets, signaling a potential long war and increased borrowing costs. Despite the market’s focus on upcoming AI regulation, tech stocks still limited losses. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 208.36 points (0.40%) to 51,303.23, the S&P 500 fell 24.04 points (0.30%) to 7,681.99, and the Nasdaq Composite dropped 159.54 points (0.58%) to 26,778.64.
Six of the 11 sectors on the benchmark index traded lower, while energy rose 1%. The CBOE Volatility Index reached a one-week high of 15.7 points. Investors anticipate talks on AI regulation, the Middle East conflict, and Taiwan during the summit, with executives from top US companies expected to meet Trump and Xi. Higher energy costs and strong business activity led to a 71% chance of at least a 25-basis-point Fed rate hike next month, up from around 50% a day earlier.
New York Fed President John Williams echoed these expectations, suggesting potential further rate increases this year. Weekly jobless claims fell, indicating a strengthening labor market. Meta Platforms launched Charm, a handheld device for its AI agent Muse, and its shares rose 1.1%. Among other movers, MGM Resorts fell 10% after its potential buyer, People Inc, withdrew its proposal.
Declining issues significantly outnumbered advancers on both the NYSE and Nasdaq. The S&P 500 achieved seven new 52-week highs and 20 new lows, while the Nasdaq Composite recorded 17 new highs and 103 new lows.
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