{
  "id": 1961310,
  "title": "Oil rises, stocks waver amid tech sell-off",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/19/oil-rises-stocks-waver-amid-tech-sell-off",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-08-19T15:19:10.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Peninsula Qatar Business",
    "slug": "the-peninsula-qatar-business",
    "url": "https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/19/08/2026/oilrises-stocks-waver-amid-tech-sell-off"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Stock markets experienced modest gains in London on Wednesday, while oil prices continued to rise amid concerns over higher global bond yields driven by inflation and mounting debt worries. The surge in bond yields, fueled by worries about the significant debt levels taken on by AI companies, contributed to a heavy toll on technology stocks.\n\nOn Wall Street, the tech-heavy Nasdaq opened lower and extended losses from the previous day, while the Dow and S&P showed slight gains, following the pattern seen in Europe after suffering losses in Asia. South Korea's Kospi index suffered the most significant decline, dropping 5.8 percent as chipmaker SK hynix plummeted nearly 10 percent and Samsung declined around 8 percent.\n\nSusannah Streeter, chief investment strategist at Wealth Club, attributed the surge in bond yields to \"concerns about persistent inflation, heavy government borrowing, and the sheer scale of debt being issued.\" Higher yields make bonds more appealing compared to stocks, increase borrowing costs, and lower the present value of future corporate profits, particularly affecting highly valued technology stocks.\n\nOil prices persisted in their upward trajectory as the likelihood of a Middle East deal waned following US President Donald Trump's decision not to extend a 60-day truce with Iran. Analysts predicted an extended standoff between US and Iranian officials, diminishing hopes for a swift reopening of the vital Strait of Hormuz shipping route. This situation further intensified inflation expectations, pushing up US government debt costs.\n\nIn July, UK inflation jumped to 2.9 percent, driven by soaring energy bills, according to official data. After the Asian market closed, SK hynix announced a $29 billion share buyback to bolster its stock price and alleviate investor concerns.\n\nMeanwhile, US biopharma company Moderna witnessed its share price nearly double after achieving positive results for a crucial skin cancer vaccine developed in collaboration with Merck. Moderna's stock rose by 107 percent, reaching around $130 in opening trades, while Merck increased by over 10 percent, trading at approximately $150.",
  "summary": "<p>London: Stock markets mostly eked out gains while oil prices climbed further Wednesday as higher global bond yields, fuelled by inflation and debt concerns, rattled confidence and took a heavy toll on technology stocks.</p> <p>Global bond yields have surged to multiyear highs in recent days, reigniting wariness about the huge piles of debt AI firms in particular are taking on to develop their…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}