Stock Market Update
21-Oct-26 15:35 ET
Major averages recover from breif oil-driven pressure
Dow +268.37
at 52764.46,
Nasdaq +285.29
at 26730.55,
S&P +43.22
at 7755.86
[BRIEFING.COM] The major averages are recovering from a modest afternoon pullback that followed a report suggesting the State Department was preparing to order the departure of certain personnel from U.S. embassies across the Persian Gulf. The report briefly pressured stocks and prompted an uptick in crude oil prices amid renewed concerns about regional tensions.
The market subsequently regained some ground after State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott disputed the report, clarifying that the ordered departure applies only to non-emergency U.S. government employees and their families in Saudi Arabia, citing increased attacks by Iranian-backed Houthis.
Just before the brief afternoon uptick, WTI crude settled $0.66 lower (-2.1%) at $97.16 per barrel, reflecting the front-month contract's roll to December.
