Business & Markets
Nasdaq hits record as oil drop lifts global stocks
The Nasdaq Composite closed at a record on Monday as global stock markets rose, helped by lower oil prices and hopes for progress in US-China and US-Iran diplomacy.
The Nasdaq gained 2.3 percent to close at 27,122.09. The S&P 500 rose 1.5 percent and the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.7 percent.
Oil prices fell after US President Donald Trump signalled he would be open to meeting Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian during the United Nations General Assembly week in New York. Brent North Sea crude was down 3.4 percent at $100.34 per barrel around 2020 GMT after briefly falling below $100. West Texas Intermediate was down 4.5 percent at $95.78.
European markets also advanced. London closed up 0.8 percent, Paris gained 0.9 percent and Frankfurt rose 1.1 percent. Hong Kong closed up 1.2 percent, Shanghai rose 1.0 percent and South Korea's tech-heavy benchmark gained 1.7 percent. Tokyo was closed for a public holiday.
Stocks had been under pressure last week after the US Federal Reserve raised interest rates to curb inflation pressures, including from high energy costs linked to the US-Israeli war against Iran.
Patrick O'Hare at Briefing.com said the fall in oil prices helped sovereign bond markets and gave equities some relief. Susannah Streeter, chief investment strategist at Wealth Club, said lower crude prices had eased inflation worries amid hopes that fresh negotiations could lead to a breakthrough in the Iran conflict.
US and Chinese economic officials met Sunday for talks on trade and artificial intelligence before a planned Thursday summit in Washington between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the two countries discussed creating a “US-China AI dialogue” to share information on the technology and its potential risks.
Chipmaker AMD became the latest technology company linked to the artificial intelligence boom to reach a valuation above $1 trillion.
Update
The Nasdaq Composite closed up 2.3 percent at a fresh record.
The Dow closed up 0.7 percent and the S&P 500 closed up 1.5 percent.
Brent crude was down 3.4 percent at $100.34 per barrel and WTI was down 4.5 percent at $95.78 around 2020 GMT.
AMD reached a valuation of more than $1 trillion.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's CDU suffered two regional election defeats, though investors largely ignored them.
Source note: AFP news report published on 21 September 2026 at 20:23:59 UTC.
Update
Wall Street, European and Asian stock markets rose on Monday as oil prices fell.
Brent crude was down 3.4 percent at $100.30 per barrel around 1530 GMT after briefly falling below $100, while WTI was down 4.6 percent at $95.68.
US and Chinese economic officials discussed trade and artificial intelligence before a planned Trump-Xi summit on Thursday.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the countries discussed creating a US-China AI dialogue.
Source note: AFP news report published on 21 September 2026 at 16:07:52 UTC.
Update
Brent North Sea crude fell 4.0 percent to $99.69 per barrel.
West Texas Intermediate fell 5.0 percent to $95.22 per barrel.
Source note: AFP news report published on 21 September 2026 at 14:37:32 UTC.
Update
Brent crude fell below $100 per barrel.
The fall was linked to hopes around the Middle East war.
Source note: AFP news report published on 21 September 2026 at 14:20:44 UTC.
Update
Wall Street stocks rose early Monday, with the Dow up 0.2%, the S&P 500 up 0.6% and the Nasdaq Composite up 1.1% about 15 minutes into trading.
Briefing.com analyst Patrick O'Hare linked market hopes to the possibility of a Trump-Pezeshkian meeting during the UN gathering.
Art Hogan of B. Riley Wealth Management said lower crude prices and bond yields were supporting markets but could reverse.
Source note: AFP news report published on 21 September 2026 at 13:53:25 UTC.
Update
Wall Street opened higher, with the Dow up 0.7% around 1330 GMT.
Brent crude was down 3.1% at $100.64 per barrel and West Texas Intermediate was down 3.8% at $96.49 around 1330 GMT.
London, Paris and Frankfurt were around 1% higher in afternoon trading.
An analyst cited higher Saudi exports and reports that part of the damaged East-West oil pipeline could reopen quickly.
Source note: AFP news report published on 21 September 2026 at 13:50:49 UTC.
Update
European markets rose about one percent in midday trading, with Frankfurt up 1.1 percent and London and Paris each up 0.9 percent.
Oil prices were down more than three percent around 1100 GMT, with Brent at $100.46 and WTI at $97.15.
Donald Trump signalled he would be open to meeting Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian at the UN General Assembly week.
US and Chinese officials discussed setting up a communication channel called the US-China AI dialogue.
Source note: AFP news report published on 21 September 2026 at 11:34:11 UTC.
Update
Hong Kong's main index was up 1.0 percent in the final hour of Monday trading.
South Korea's tech-heavy benchmark finished up 1.7 percent, and Shanghai's Composite Index closed up 1.0 percent.
West Texas Intermediate was down 2.2 percent at $98.07 and Brent was down 2.0 percent at $101.83 around 0715 GMT.
The Bank of Japan raised interest rates by 25 basis points to 1.25 percent on Friday in a 7-2 vote, but the yen fell against the dollar.
Source note: AFP news report published on 21 September 2026 at 07:39:22 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
The outcome of possible US-Iran talks and the planned US-China summit remains unresolved.
Source
AFP news report published on .