Stock Market Today: Oil Prices Fall Under $100, Tech Stocks Rally, Gold price at $4,351

By William Collins, consultant in stock markets – Eurasia Business News, September 21, 2026. Article no 3180

U.S. stocks opened the week sharply higher on Monday, September 21, 2026, as falling oil prices eased inflation concerns and optimism about upcoming U.S.-China negotiations boosted technology and artificial-intelligence shares. The Nasdaq Composite led the advance, rising about 1.8% to 2%, while the S&P 500 gained roughly 1.2% and the Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 0.6%.

Brent crude fell below $100 a barrel for the first time in several sessions, extending its decline to four consecutive days. The drop in oil prices helped push Treasury yields lower and encouraged investors to rotate back into growth stocks, particularly semiconductor and AI-related companies.

Nasdaq Leads Stock-Market Rally

The technology-heavy Nasdaq was the strongest major U.S. index, supported by a broad recovery in chipmakers and other AI-linked stocks. The S&P 500 also advanced as nine of its 11 sectors traded higher, with communication services leading gains. Energy stocks were the weakest group as crude prices fell.

Arm Holdings was among the day’s biggest movers, gaining 15.4%. The semiconductor-design company benefited from renewed optimism about demand for advanced computing and AI infrastructure. Technology shares had recently been pressured by concerns over whether leading AI developers would slow the pace of model development, but falling yields and positive corporate news helped revive buying interest.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.6%, showing that the rally extended beyond technology, although blue-chip gains were more modest than those in the Nasdaq. Investors continued to favor companies with strong growth exposure as lower energy costs eased concerns about inflation and borrowing expenses.

Brent crude futures dropped approximately 4% to trade below $100 a barrel, extending a four-session losing streak. Earlier market reports placed Brent near $101.65, while later trading pushed the benchmark lower as expectations grew that supply disruptions from the Middle East may be less severe than initially feared.

West Texas Intermediate crude fell below $100, with one market update placing it near $96.50. The declines followed signs that more oil was leaving the Gulf than traders had expected despite the continuing conflict and damage to Saudi Arabia’s East-West pipeline.

Lower oil prices matter for markets because energy costs influence inflation, corporate margins and consumer spending. A decline in crude can reduce gasoline and transport costs, giving central banks more room to respond to economic conditions without immediately tightening policy further.

The move also pressured energy shares, which had outperformed during the oil rally. Investors shifted capital toward technology and communication-services companies as the immediate inflation threat appeared to moderate.

U.S.-China AI Talks Support Sentiment

Investors were also encouraged by weekend discussions between U.S. and Chinese officials in New York. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng reportedly discussed trade, technology and artificial intelligence ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Washington.

Read also : Tax Management strategies for Digital Nomads

One proposal under discussion was a “notification mechanism” for AI incidents that could affect national security. The idea suggests that Washington and Beijing may seek limited cooperation on AI safety and crisis communication even as they continue to compete over semiconductors, trade and strategic technology.

The talks were described by U.S. officials as productive, while China characterized them positively. Markets are now focused on the summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Xi, scheduled for September 24. Trade, tariffs, Taiwan, investment restrictions and AI regulation are expected to feature prominently.

Read also : Gold : Build Your Wealth and Freedom

Any progress could improve expectations for global supply chains and reduce the risk of additional tariffs on technology goods. Conversely, disagreements over advanced chips or national-security controls could quickly reverse Monday’s gains.

Bond yields fell alongside oil prices. The 2-year Treasury yield declined two basis points to 4.73%, the 10-year yield dropped four basis points to 4.95% and the 30-year yield fell three basis points to 5.29%.

The decline in the 10-year yield helped support technology stocks because lower long-term rates increase the present value of future corporate earnings. It also reduced pressure on companies that need to finance data centers, semiconductor plants and other capital-intensive infrastructure.

Economic Data Shows Slower Growth

The Chicago Federal Reserve’s National Activity Index came in at -0.04 in August, better than the consensus forecast of -0.08 but below July’s reading of 0.08. The result suggested that U.S. economic growth cooled during the month, although not as sharply as economists had expected.

Read also : 7 ways to retire comfortably with $1 million

The combination of slower growth, falling oil and lower Treasury yields gave markets a favorable interpretation: inflation pressure may be easing without an immediate collapse in economic activity.

Monday’s rally depended on two developments—the retreat in crude prices and optimism over U.S.-China diplomacy. If Brent remains below $100, investors may continue rotating into technology, AI and other growth sectors.

However, the Middle East conflict remains unresolved, and the Trump-Xi summit could produce fresh trade tensions. The week ahead will therefore test whether the stock-market rally can broaden beyond technology or whether investors remain dependent on lower oil prices and geopolitical headlines.

Our community already has nearly 330,000 readers!

Subscribe to our Telegram channel