Financial News September 25, 2026: Stocks Rise as Oil Retreats and Rate Fears Persist

Wall Street advanced Friday as oil retreated from a one-week high and investors weighed hopes for a U.S.–Iran truce against stubborn inflation and the prospect of another Federal Reserve rate increase. European stocks headed for their first weekly gain in a month, while Treasury yields and the dollar remained elevated.

By North American Talk Radio Staff | September 25, 2026

Market information is current as of approximately 2:45 p.m. Eastern on Friday, September 25. Friday’s U.S. stock, bond, commodity, currency and cryptocurrency sessions remained underway. Thursday’s U.S. closing results are completed; European and Asian figures are identified by their reported times.

U.S. stocks climbed Friday as a pullback in crude oil gave investors some relief from the inflation shock that has driven Treasury yields toward two-decade highs.

The Dow led the advance. At approximately 2:45 p.m. Eastern, the SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF gained about 0.8%. The SPDR S&P 500 ETF rose roughly 0.5%, while the Nasdaq-100 tracking Invesco QQQ advanced about 0.4%.

The rally did not eliminate the market’s underlying concern. Oil remained above prewar levels, the dollar headed toward a weekly gain and Federal Reserve officials continued to signal that inflation could require tighter policy.

Wall Street Rises as Oil Eases

The S&P 500 and Nasdaq opened higher Friday, while the Dow outperformed as investors returned to industrial and other economically sensitive shares.

At approximately 2:45 p.m. Eastern, SPY traded near $770.71, up 0.5%. QQQ stood near $744.30, up 0.4%, and DIA traded near $516.95, an increase of about 0.8%.

The gains followed a volatile week in which oil, bond yields and diplomatic headlines repeatedly changed market direction. Lower crude prices helped airlines, travel companies and other businesses that consume large quantities of fuel.

However, the benchmark 10-year Treasury yield remained close to 5%. That level keeps borrowing costs high and limits how much investors are willing to pay for long-duration growth stocks.

Thursday’s Completed U.S. Market Results

Wall Street finished almost unchanged Thursday as higher oil prices and Treasury yields offset strength in artificial-intelligence shares.

The S&P 500 slipped 1.90 points, or 0.02%, to close at 7,704.13. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 161.61 points, or 0.31%, to 51,349.98. The Nasdaq Composite edged 3.34 points, or 0.01%, higher to 26,939.37.

Eight of the S&P 500’s 11 main sectors declined. Microsoft weakened, while Meta Platforms and several semiconductor companies gained as enthusiasm surrounding Meta’s Muse artificial-intelligence agent continued.

Intel rose 3.9% and Advanced Micro Devices gained 2.4% during Thursday’s session. Those advances prevented the technology-heavy Nasdaq from joining the S&P 500 and Dow in negative territory.

Reuters reporting carried by Ipotnews provided Thursday’s completed index results and major stock movements.

Oil Falls but Supply Risks Remain

Crude oil declined Friday as traders assessed the possibility of a U.S.–Iran truce. The pullback followed two sessions of gains and a sharp increase Thursday.

Brent crude fell 87 cents, or 0.8%, to $105.73 per barrel during early Friday trading. West Texas Intermediate dropped $1.56, or 1.7%, to $93.05.

On Thursday, Brent settled 3.4% higher and WTI gained 2.7%. Brent recorded its highest settlement since September 15 after both benchmarks rose as much as 5% intraday.

The two benchmarks have diverged sharply. WTI entered Friday down more than 6% for the week, while Brent remained about 2% higher. International crude has carried a larger geopolitical premium because disrupted Middle Eastern shipping affects Brent-linked supplies more directly.

Diplomatic hope remains fragile. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian pledged that Iran would not surrender, while Houthi forces continued attacks involving Saudi Arabia. Physical damage or another interruption to shipping could quickly reverse Friday’s decline.

Reuters reported Friday’s oil prices, Thursday’s completed settlements and the competing diplomatic and supply signals.

Treasury Yields Keep Pressure on Borrowers

Long-term Treasury yields remained near their highest levels since 2007 as investors prepared for monetary policy to remain restrictive.

Federal Reserve officials have emphasized that inflation extends beyond energy and tariff effects. Richmond Fed President Tom Barkin said the economy may be strengthening and that consumer demand continues to support broader price pressure.

The Fed raised its target range by a quarter percentage point to 3.75%–4% last week. Markets subsequently increased the probability of another move in October toward 70%.

Higher yields affect nearly every major asset class. Mortgage rates and corporate refinancing costs tend to rise, government interest expense increases and bonds become more competitive with stocks and gold.

Reuters detailed Barkin’s inflation concerns and his assessment of the broader U.S. economy.

European Stocks Head for Weekly Gain

European shares rose Friday morning and headed toward their first weekly advance after three consecutive weekly declines.

The STOXX 600 gained 0.7% to approximately 640.66 by 7:04 a.m. GMT. Germany’s DAX rose 0.6% despite a survey showing that German consumer sentiment weakened more than expected as energy costs damaged household income expectations.

Airlines benefited from the retreat in oil. Ryanair and Lufthansa each gained more than 2%, while the broader travel and leisure index advanced 1.2%. Energy shares fell approximately 0.7%.

Finland’s Konecranes rose 5.1% after the industrial-equipment company launched a share-buyback program and raised its financial targets.

Reuters reported Friday’s European-market movements, sector performance and German confidence data.

Asian Markets Withstand the Global Bond Selloff

Asian equities produced a comparatively resilient session despite another rise in long-term borrowing costs.

Japan’s government-bond market remained under pressure after the 10-year yield reached a 30-year high Thursday. The Bank of Japan raised its benchmark rate to 1.25% last week, and expensive imported energy keeps the possibility of additional tightening alive.

Chinese and Hong Kong shares continued to assess the limited outcome of President Donald Trump’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The leaders extended their trade truce into January, preventing an immediate tariff escalation but leaving major disputes over technology, artificial intelligence and industrial policy unresolved.

Reuters’ Asian-market report described the region’s response to rising U.S. yields, oil above $100 and the Trump–Xi talks.

Dollar Heads for Weekly Gain

The dollar remained supported by high Treasury yields and expectations that U.S. monetary policy will stay restrictive.

Reuters reported that the currency was on course for a weekly gain of about 1%. A stronger dollar makes commodities priced in the currency more expensive for international buyers and creates another headwind for emerging-market borrowers with dollar-denominated debt.

The yen faced conflicting forces. Higher Japanese yields can encourage capital to return home, but costly oil worsens Japan’s import bill. The euro and British pound also remained sensitive to the widening difference between U.S. and European rate expectations.

Gold Heads Toward Weekly Loss

Gold eased during early Friday trading and remained on course for a weekly decline as the dollar strengthened and investors prepared for interest rates to remain elevated.

Spot gold slipped about 0.2%. U.S. futures edged higher, while the broader market continued to weigh geopolitical risk against the income available from government bonds.

Gold-backed exchange-traded funds recovered later in the U.S. session. The SPDR Gold Shares ETF traded near $393.54 at approximately 2:45 p.m. Eastern, up about 0.5% for the day.

The mixed performance reflects gold’s unusual position. War and inflation support demand for defensive assets, but a Treasury yield near 5% raises the opportunity cost of holding a metal that produces no interest.

Reuters reported Friday’s bullion-market direction and the effect of the dollar and Fed expectations.

Bitcoin Holds Near $84,000

Bitcoin traded near $83,964 at approximately 2:45 p.m. Eastern, down about 0.4% during the session. It moved between roughly $83,250 and $85,205.

The cryptocurrency remained well above its late-August lows but struggled to sustain a move beyond $85,000.

Bitcoin faces the same rate challenge as other speculative assets. High Treasury yields give investors an income-producing alternative, while a stronger dollar can reduce demand for cryptocurrency. Conversely, geopolitical uncertainty and concern about conventional currencies continue to support longer-term interest.

Corporate News: Konecranes, AI Chips and SoftBank Debt

Konecranes supplied one of Europe’s strongest corporate moves Friday after raising financial targets and announcing a buyback. The gain demonstrated that investors still reward companies capable of improving shareholder returns despite the difficult economic environment.

Artificial-intelligence shares also remained central to Wall Street. Meta’s Muse assistant has strengthened expectations for new subscription and advertising revenue, while demand for computing infrastructure has supported AMD, Intel and other chipmakers.

Meanwhile, SoftBank priced a large bond transaction intended to finance its next OpenAI investment installment. The deal underscores both the scale of AI capital requirements and investors’ willingness to fund them even as global yields rise. Reuters reported the planned $11 billion financing and its use for SoftBank’s OpenAI commitment.

Financial Market Outlook

Friday’s rally reflects relief, not a complete change in the market environment.

Lower oil prices helped stocks, airlines and travel companies. However, crude remains expensive, Treasury yields remain close to 5% and the Fed may tighten again in October.

Investors should monitor:

• Weekend developments involving the United States, Iran and Saudi Arabia.
• Shipping conditions through the Strait of Hormuz.
• Whether Brent crude remains above $100 per barrel.
• The 10-year Treasury yield and mortgage-rate implications.
• Federal Reserve guidance before the October meeting.
• The dollar’s effect on commodities and emerging markets.
• Whether AI shares can continue supporting major U.S. indexes.

The market’s immediate direction still runs through oil. A sustained decline would ease inflation expectations and borrowing pressure. Another supply shock could quickly reverse Friday’s gains.