Major U.S. stock indexes closed lower last week, with the Nasdaq Composite down 0.20%, the S&P 500 down 0.27%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average down 0.42%. This decline was influenced by ongoing U.S.-Iran tensions, high oil prices, rising Treasury yields, and inflation concerns. Consumer sentiment weakened, as reflected in the University of Michigan’s final September index, which dropped to 48.1 from 51.7 in August.
Initial jobless claims fell to 197,000 for the week ending September 19, with continuing claims rising to 1.719 million. New home sales surged by 6.4% in August to an annualized rate of 684,000 units—the highest since December 2025. Despite these positive signals, inflation expectations climbed to 4.6%, and the 10-year Treasury yield reached a multi-decade high of 5.20%.
Oil prices remained elevated amid geopolitical tensions, although prices began to decline toward the end of the week on hopes for progress in U.S.-Iran negotiations. Investors continue to face uncertainty with economic indicators and global developments impacting market sentiment.
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