Cumberland Times-News
·Jul 2026
Stocks waver on Wall Street while crude oil prices fall for the first time in a week
U.S. stocks fluctuated as the S&P 500 gained 0.1%, the Dow rose 0.5% and the Nasdaq fell 0.6%, leaving all three major indexes lower for the week. Brent crude dropped nearly 4% to $96.78 a barrel after reaching $102, despite continued fighting in the Middle East threatening global oil supplies. Lower Treasury yields offered some support, while investors remained concerned about tariffs, higher energy costs, inflation and the possibility that the Federal Reserve could raise interest rates later in the year. European markets advanced, Asian markets declined, and uncertainty about corporate earnings and elevated technology valuations continued to weigh on sentiment.