Nasdaq Rises 2.26% to Close at 27,122.09 as AI Stocks Surge, Oil Slides Below $100

Mumbai, Sept 22: US equities closed sharply higher on Monday, with the Nasdaq Composite setting a record close as technology and artificial-intelligence shares advanced, oil prices fell and Treasury yields retreated. The Dow Jones Industrial Average ended at 52,049.72, up 367.08 points or 0.71%, while the S&P 500 rose 114.26 points or 1.49% to 7,764.76. The Nasdaq Composite gained 599.55 points or 2.26% to 27,122.09. The Russell 2000 added 20.13 points or 0.70% to 2,880.53. 

Nasdaq Composite Gains 599.55 Points as AI Stocks Drive Record Close Today 

The Nasdaq Composite opened at 26,723.19 and closed at 27,122.09, marking a gain of 599.55 points or 2.26%. Its intraday high stood at 27,183.93, while the low was 26,707.42, compared with a previous close of 26,522.54. Volume reached 6,831,216,000.  

The technology-heavy benchmark surpassed its prior closing record of 27,093.90 set on 2 June 2026, and its 52-week range stood at 20,690.25 to 27,190.21. Arm Holdings climbed 17.16%, Intel added 12.17%, Meta Platforms gained 11.43%, Warner Bros. Discovery rose 10.79%, AMD advanced 9.97%, Qualcomm increased 9.28% and Strategy gained 9.47%. T-Mobile US fell 1.73%, Starbucks declined 0.97%, ADP eased 0.47% and PepsiCo slipped 0.12%.  

The technology-heavy benchmark responded to renewed demand for artificial-intelligence and semiconductor-related shares during the closing session. 

Dow Jones Gains 367.08 Points as Oil Slides, Lifting Closing Market Sentiment 

The Dow Jones Industrial Average opened at 51,936.76 and closed at 52,049.72, gaining 367.08 points or 0.71%. The index touched an intraday high of 52,128.58 and a low of 51,747.68, compared with its previous close of 51,682.64. Trading volume stood at 427,898,041.  

Within the index, Nvidia rose 2.29%, Amgen added 1.95%, Merck gained 1.92%, Goldman Sachs advanced 1.90%, Amazon increased 1.87% and Apple moved 0.91% higher. Chevron fell 2.73%, Coca-Cola declined 1.24%, Home Depot slipped 0.91%, Travelers lost 0.85% and Salesforce eased 0.62%.  

The session followed a broad retreat in crude oil prices, which reduced pressure on energy-linked inflation expectations and supported the wider equity market. 

S&P 500 Gains 114.26 Points as Yields Ease, Supporting Broader Market Today 

The S&P 500 opened at 7,692.83 and ended at 7,764.76, gaining 114.26 points or 1.49%. During the session, the index reached a high of 7,779.22 and a low of 7,691.19, against a previous close of 7,650.50.  

Volume was 3,130,172,000. The benchmark was lifted by a combination of lower Treasury yields and declining oil prices, which coincided with strength in communication services and information technology shares. Among major constituents, Intel surged 12.17%, AMD jumped 9.97%, Qualcomm gained 9.28%, Warner Bros.  

Discovery advanced 10.79% and Meta Platforms rose 11.43%. On the downside, Marathon Petroleum dropped 5.41%, Valero Energy fell 4.80%, Union Pacific declined 3.43%, ConocoPhillips lost 3.28% and Exxon Mobil slipped 3.23%. The index closed within 0.4% of its record closing high set on 13 August 2026. 

Also Read: How to invest in US stocks

Russell 2000 Gains 20.13 Points as Smaller Stocks Track Broader Advance Today 

The Russell 2000 opened at 2,860.40 and closed at 2,880.53, gaining 20.13 points or 0.70%. It recorded an intraday high of 2,883.46 and a low of 2,860.40, with a previous close of 2,860.40. Its 52-week range stood at 2,303.46 to 3,069.71.  

Smaller-cap shares participated in the broader advance, with GRAIL rising 33.68%, AXT gaining 14.14%, DigitalOcean Holdings adding 12.26%, Rambus increasing 10.68%, Amryx advancing 7.64%, CRDO rising 6.47% and HIMS gaining 4.63%. Decliners included PBF Energy, which fell 6.26%, SM Energy, which dropped 6.05%, RadNet, which declined 4.38%, Semtech, which lost 4.12%, and Hecla Mining, which slipped 3.04%.  

The small-cap benchmark reflected the day’s broader risk appetite while energy-linked names lagged. 

S&P 100 Gains 70.35 Points as Large-Cap Shares Track Market Strength Today 

The S&P 100 opened at 3,834.71 and finished at 3,882.16, recording a gain of 70.35 points or 1.85%. The index traded between 3,831.33 and 3,885.48 during the session, against a previous close of 3,811.81. Its 52-week high stood at 3,885.48, while the 52-week low was 3,074.00.  

Movements in major large-cap constituents, including Meta Platforms at 11.43%, AMD at 9.97%, Intel at 12.17%, Qualcomm at 9.28% and Nvidia at 2.29%, contributed to its daily performance. Energy-linked large caps, including Chevron at -2.73% and Exxon Mobil at -3.23%, weighed on the index.  

The S&P 100’s move reflected the same technology-led market strength that supported the major benchmarks. 

Dow Composite Gains 43.00 Points as Transport And Utility Diverge In Session 

The Dow Jones Composite Average opened at 16,240.77 and closed at 16,218.46, gaining 43.00 points or 0.27%, after moving between 16,140.24 and 16,261.64. The Dow Jones Transportation Average ended at 19,970.90, compared with an opening level of 20,150.05, representing a decline of 108.20 points or 0.54%.  

The Dow Jones Utility Average closed at 1,035.93, changing -7.28 points or -0.70% from its opening level of 1,042.85. The composite’s advance came as industrial and utility components diverged, with transport shares pressured while broader market sentiment remained supported by lower oil and yields. 

Philadelphia Semiconductor Index Gains 511.49 Points as Chip Stocks Rally Sharply Today 

The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) opened at 12,145.93 and closed at 12,433.17, gaining 511.49 points or 4.29%. Its intraday high was 12,491.61, while the low was 12,059.30, compared with a previous close of 11,921.69. The 52-week range stood at 6,125.00 to 14,655.29.  

Semiconductor-related constituents such as AMD rose 9.97%, Intel gained 12.17%, Arm Holdings jumped 17.16%, Qualcomm advanced 9.28%, Marvell Technology added 5.39%, Lam Research gained 4.92%, Applied Materials rose 4.42% and KLA added 3.94%. The sector benchmark’s daily performance came as chip shares led the broader technology advance. 

NYSE Composite Gains 101.74 Points as Broader Shares Track Risk Appetite Today 

The NYSE Composite Index opened at 23,998.76 and closed at 24,100.50, recording a gain of 101.74 points or 0.42%. The index traded between 23,998.76 and 24,144.64 during the session, against a previous close of 23,998.76. Its 52-week high stood at 24,866.75, while the 52-week low was 20,906.44.  

Movements across technology, communication services and financial shares contributed to its performance, while energy-related constituents declined alongside crude oil. The composite’s advance reflected a broad but uneven session in which technology and growth shares led while energy and some defensive names lagged. 

Also Read: US Stock Market Timings 

S&P MidCap 400 Gains 16.36 Points as SmallCap 600 Adds 4.37 Today 

The S&P MidCap 400 opened at 3,650.73 and closed at 3,667.09, moving 16.36 points or 0.45%, with an intraday range of 3,650.73 to 3,675.17. The S&P SmallCap 600 opened at 1,696.86 and ended at 1,695.26, gaining 4.37 points or 0.26%, after trading between 1,692.02 and 1,702.98.  

The mid-cap benchmark’s 52-week range stood at 3,107.41 to 3,928.98, while the small-cap benchmark’s 52-week range was 1,364.16 to 1,832.20. Both benchmarks reflected moderate gains among mid- and small-cap shares as the wider market advanced. 

Oil and Yields Drive Session as Brent Falls Below $100 Per Barrel 

The principal market catalyst was the retreat in crude oil prices and Treasury yields. West Texas Intermediate crude fell 4.8% to $95.50 a barrel, while Brent crude declined 3.7% to $100.00 a barrel, with both benchmarks touching an 11-day low during the session. The 10-year Treasury yield fell to 4.972%, down more than 2 basis points, while the 30-year Treasury yield stood at 5.305%. The oil decline followed hopes of diplomatic progress in Middle East discussions during the United Nations General Assembly, while the yield retreat eased valuation pressure on growth shares.  

Bitcoin also rose 6.96% to $86,719.30, touching its highest level since January and supporting risk appetite across crypto-linked equities. The dollar index moved 0.2% higher to 100.41, while gold futures declined 1% to $4,385 an ounce. 

S&P 500 Communication Services Gains 4.1% as Energy Sector Falls Sharply Today 

Performance across the S&P 500 was led by communication services, which rose 4.1%, and information technology, which gained 2.1%. Meta Platforms and Warner Bros. Discovery both advanced more than 11% to pace communication services, while Intel and Akamai Technologies jumped 12% and 11% respectively to lead information technology.  

Energy was the worst-performing sector, falling more than 2%, as Marathon Petroleum, Valero Energy and Phillips 66 led decliners. Financials advanced, with Citigroup up 2.50%, Goldman Sachs up 1.90%, Morgan Stanley up 1.77%, Charles Schwab up 1.51% and BlackRock up 1.90%. Healthcare recorded mixed moves, with Merck up 1.92%, Amgen up 1.95%, Thermo Fisher up 1.24% and Johnson & Johnson down 0.15%. Consumer staples weakened as Coca-Cola fell 1.24%, PepsiCo slipped 0.12% and Procter & Gamble eased 0.19%. 

Magnificent Seven Shares Advance as Mega-Cap Technology Supports Major US Indices Today 

Among the Magnificent Seven, Meta Platforms moved 11.43%, Tesla gained 3.00%, Nvidia added 2.29%, Amazon rose 1.87%, Alphabet’s GOOG class gained 1.87%, GOOGL advanced 1.56%, Microsoft increased 1.56% and Apple added 0.91%.  

The Roundhill Magnificent Seven ETF hit an intraday all-time high of $71.74, up 3.5%, marking its second consecutive session at a record. Their daily movements contributed to the performance of the Nasdaq Composite, S&P 500 and S&P 100, with mega-cap technology providing the strongest support to the major benchmarks during the closing session. 

Semiconductor, Financial and Energy Stocks Show Mixed Daily Moves Across Market Today 

Semiconductor stocks were higher, with the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index rising 4.29% to 12,433.17. Financial stocks recorded gains, as JPMorgan Chase rose 0.71%, Visa added 0.44%, Mastercard gained 0.45%, Bank of America advanced 0.53%, Morgan Stanley rose 1.77%, Goldman Sachs gained 1.90%, Citigroup increased 2.50% and Charles Schwab added 1.51%. Energy stocks moved lower alongside crude oil, with Marathon Petroleum down 5.41%, Valero Energy down 4.80%, ConocoPhillips down 3.28%, Exxon Mobil down 3.23% and Chevron down 2.73%. AI and growth stocks were higher, with Intel up 12.17%, AMD up 9.97%, Qualcomm up 9.28%, Arm Holdings up 17.16% and Meta Platforms up 11.43%, contributing to the technology-heavy indices. 

Also Read: What Is the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE)?

VIX Rises 0.068% to 14.82 as Market Volatility Remains Muted 

The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) rose 0.068% to 14.82, compared with its previous close of 14.81. The index opened at 14.96, reached an intraday high of 15.13 and fell to a low of 14.60 during the session. Its 52-week high stood at 35.30, while its 52-week low was 13.38. 

The VIX tracks expected volatility in the S&P 500 over the next 30 days. Its modest movement came as broader US markets advanced, with the S&P 500 gaining 1.49% and the Nasdaq Composite rising 2.26%. Data for the session did not reference the CBOE Nasdaq Volatility Index (VXN) or the CBOE S&P 500 3-Month Volatility Index (VIX3M). 

GRAIL Leads US Market Gainers with 33.68% Surge as Top Losers Drop Up to 14.32% 

GRAIL led the broader US market gainers, climbing 33.68% to $107.97. Securitize advanced 23.99% to $13.47, while Arm Holdings gained 17.16% to $322.90. Polibeli Group rose 15.40% to $6.37, followed by Fastly, which increased 14.92% to $27.42. AXT gained 14.14% to $79.93, Five9 advanced 13.98% to $37.01, and Twenty One Capital rose 13.60% to $6.60. 

On the declining side, Braveheart Bio fell 14.32% to $25.02, while Parabilis Medicines dropped 11.50% to $36.93. Telix Pharmaceuticals declined 10.17% to $11.31, and Novo Nordisk fell 7.92% to $39.82. CoreCivic declined 7.98% to $32.42, Rush Street Interactive lost 7.38% to $21.58, ZTO Express dropped 7.23% to $19.44, and Mohawk Industries slipped 7.01% to $117.25. The session saw notable weakness across several energy and healthcare names despite the broader advance in US equities. 

Federal Reserve Rate Outlook Remains Focus as Yields Retreat During Session Today 

The Federal Reserve remained a key focus as markets assessed the latest policy signals. The central bank raised its policy rate by 25 basis points last week, its first increase in three years, and markets priced a 53% chance of another rate hike next month. St. Louis Fed President Alberto Musalem said further rate hikes would likely be needed to lower inflation resulting from strong demand and a commodity price shock that has moved beyond oil.  

Chicago Fed President Austan Goolsbee said strong demand may be adding to US inflation and rejected calls for rate cuts to ease the government’s debt burden. The 10-year Treasury yield stood at 4.972%, while the 30-year yield was 5.305%, as the yield curve moved with the session’s rate expectations. 

10-Year Treasury Yield Falls to 4.972% as Oil Prices Retreat During Session 

The 10-year Treasury yield fell to 4.972%, down more than 2 basis points, while the 30-year Treasury yield stood at 5.305%. The decline in yields coincided with the drop in crude oil prices, as West Texas Intermediate fell to $95.50 and Brent slipped to $100.00. Lower yields supported growth-oriented equities, particularly technology and semiconductor shares, by easing pressure on valuations.  

The bond market’s move came as investors assessed the Federal Reserve’s recent rate increase and the possibility of further tightening, with markets assigning a 53% probability to another hike next month. Treasury trading also reflected the broader risk-on tone that lifted the major US equity benchmarks. 

Diesel Prices Hit $6.51 as Russia Extends Export Ban, Pressuring Markets Today 

US diesel prices climbed to an all-time high of more than $6.51 per gallon, up from $3.69 a year earlier, after Russia was reported to be extending its diesel export ban beyond the end of September. The development followed a weekend attack on a major Russian oil refinery outside Moscow.  

Before Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the country accounted for roughly 10% of global diesel exports. Diesel futures in Europe closed at an all-time high last week, having more than doubled their level at the beginning of 2026. The rise in diesel costs added to inflation concerns and pressured margins across sectors that move physical goods. 

Also Read: What Are Fractional Shares? 

US Strategic Petroleum Reserve Falls to 284.6 Million Barrels Lowest Since 1982 

Stocks of crude oil in the US Strategic Petroleum Reserve fell to 284.6 million barrels last week, the lowest level since October 1982, according to Department of Energy data. The drawdowns are part of a US agreement to release 172 million barrels from the facility.  

The decline in reserves coincided with the session’s lower crude prices, which were driven by expectations of possible progress in Middle East talks during the United Nations General Assembly. The reserve data added to the broader energy-market backdrop as oil traders assessed supply risks, refinery disruptions and geopolitical developments. 

Crude Oil Falls as Gold Declines and Dollar Index Edges Higher Today 

Brent crude traded at $100.00, changing -3.7%, while West Texas Intermediate stood at $95.50, moving -4.8%. Gold futures declined 1% to $4,385 an ounce, while spot gold fell 0.6% to $4,349.94 per ounce.  

The US Dollar Index moved 0.2% higher to 100.41. EUR/USD stood at 1.147, USD/JPY traded at 157.423, and the euro slipped 0.10% against the dollar. Bitcoin rose 6.96% to $86,719.30, while Ether gained more than 4.6% to $2,755. The commodity and currency moves followed lower oil prices, rate expectations and the broader risk appetite during the closing session. 

The closing session was shaped by a 4.29% semiconductor rally, a 2.26% Nasdaq record close, lower oil at $95.50 WTI, and a 10-year Treasury yield of 4.972%. The Dow, S&P 500, Russell 2000 and broader benchmarks finished higher, while energy shares declined and commodities and currencies recorded the moves detailed above. 

Source 

• https://www.nasdaq.com/ 

• spglobal.com/spdji/en/indices/equity/sp-500/ 

• https://www.dowjones.com/ 

• https://www.spglobal.com/spdji/en/indices/equity/dow-jones-industrial-average/ 

• https://www.spglobal.com/spdji/en/indices/equity/sp-500/ 

• https://www.nasdaq.com/market-activity/index/comp 

• https://www.nasdaq.com/market-activity/quotes/nasdaq-ndx-index 

• https://www.spglobal.com/spdji/en/indices/equity/sp-100/ 

• https://www.lseg.com/en/ftse-russell/indices/russell-us 

• https://www.nyse.com/index 

• https://www.nyse.com/index 

• https://www.spglobal.com/spdji/en/indices/equity/dow-jones-transportation-average/ 

• https://www.spglobal.com/spdji/en/indices/equity/dow-jones-utility-average/ 

• https://www.spglobal.com/spdji/en/indices/equity/dow-jones-composite-average/ 

• https://www.nasdaq.com/market-activity/index/sox 

• https://www.cboe.com/tradable_products/vix/