Oil Sinks Below $100, Lifting Tech Stocks -- WSJ

By Caitlin McCabe

Falling oil prices are helping U.S. tech stocks stay buoyant today.

The tech-focused Nasdaq Composite Index rose modestly in afternoon trading, poised for a second straight record high. The Dow industrials slipped and the S&P 500 traded near flat. Brent crude futures ticked lower, falling below $100 a barrel after encouraging news about oil exports from the Middle East.

Saudi Arabia is running tests on its East-West pipeline and could restart flows as early as this week. The pipeline, a crucial route circumventing Hormuz, was recently closed after drone attacks. Japan's Kyodo News Agency separately reported that Iran has proposed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz if the U.S. lifts its blockade.

President Trump addressed world leaders this morning at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, arguing that his overseas interventions had made the world safer. Investors are also eyeing whether a meeting between Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian will materialize after Trump said over the weekend that he was "probably" open to it.

Government bond yields have firmed up following early declines. The 10-year Treasury yield is trading around 4.96%. Stocks tied to the artificial-intelligence trade are mixed after an enthusiastic reception for Meta's new AI agent lifted the sector yesterday.

This item is part of a Wall Street Journal live coverage event. The full stream can be found by searching P/WSJL (WSJ Live Coverage).

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

September 22, 2026 14:06 ET (18:06 GMT)