Oil prices got back to jumping, while sinking technology stocks dragged Wall Street lower amid uncertainty about what the Federal Reserve will do to get high inflation under control. The S&P 500 fell 1.5% Wednesday after briefly erasing all of an earlier drop of 1.2%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average tumbled 2.2%, and the Nasdaq composite sank 1.7%. The price of Brent oil leaped back above $88 per barrel to add further pressure on inflation. The Fed pledged again to get inflation back down to 2%, but it offered few clues on how it would do so after holding interest rates steady.

Most U.S. stocks rose after Coca-Cola and other companies reported stronger profits for the spring than analysts expected. But more drops for chip stocks and other AI winners kept Wall Street's gains in check Tuesday, and the S&P 500 rose a relatively modest 0.2%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 1%, while the Nasdaq composite slipped 0.2%. The slides for AI stocks were worse elsewhere in the world, and South Korea's Kospi index tumbled nearly 11%. Oil prices continued to ease, which helped to pull Treasury yields lower in the bond market. Brent crude fell toward $82 per barrel.

Stocks drifted to a mixed close on Wall Street and oil prices fell after the U.S. and Iran paused their attacks while work resumed on restarting negotiations to end their war. The S&P 500 ended barely changed Monday, up less than 0.1%. The index is coming off two straight weekly losses. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.5%. The Nasdaq composite fell 0.2%, weighed down by a 5% drop in AI chip giant Nvidia. After shooting as high as $102 a barrel last week, Brent crude fell 6.3% to settle at $85.87 per barrel. Treasury yields fell in the bond market.

Stocks drifted on Wall Street and oil prices fell for the first time in a week, even as heavy fighting in the Middle East again threatened to slow the global flow of oil. The S&P 500 was mostly unchanged Friday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.5%, and the Nasdaq composite fell 0.6%. All three indexes finished the week lower. After shooting to $102 a barrel a day earlier, Brent crude fell almost 4% to settle at $96.78 a barrel. Treasury yields moved lower in the bond market. European markets rose and Asian markets closed lower.

Brent oil shot to its highest price since May after increased fighting in the Middle East threatened to slow the global flow of crude. Sharp drops for Alphabet and Tesla, meanwhile, yanked the U.S. stock market on Thursday to its worst loss in a month. The S&P 500 sank 1.2%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 1% and the Nasdaq composite fell 2.2%. Brent oil’s price jumped as high as $102 per barrel during the day, up from $72 early this month. That threatens to worsen inflation, and Treasury yields climbed. Alphabet and Tesla fell following their latest profit reports.

International benchmark oil prices cross $100 a barrel again as violence escalates in the Middle East.

U.S. stock indexes barely budged after oil prices climbed another 3%. The S&P 500 edged down by 0.1% Wednesday after swinging between modest losses and gains. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was virtually unchanged and slipped less than 0.1%, while the Nasdaq composite fell 0.6%. Philip Morris International, AT&T and other stocks rallied after reporting stronger profits for the spring than analysts expected. But AI stocks continued to swing and dragged the U.S. market with them. The price for Brent crude oil touched its highest level in nearly six weeks, and Treasury yields rose in the bond market.