Mixed US Stock Market as Oil Prices Surge
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Apr 29 2026
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Source: NASDAQ.COM
- Mixed Market Performance: The S&P 500 Index fell by 0.04%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped by 0.49%, while the Nasdaq 100 Index rose by 0.48%, indicating varied market reactions, particularly with technology stocks climbing due to strong demand.
- Oil Price Surge: WTI crude oil prices increased by over 5% to a two-week high as the US maintains its naval blockade of Iran, raising inflation expectations and negatively impacting stocks, potentially exacerbating the global energy crisis.
- Strong Housing Data: US March housing starts unexpectedly rose by 10.8% to 1.502 million, surpassing expectations, indicating resilience in the real estate market and potentially providing support for stocks.
- Tech Earnings Anticipation: With earnings reports from Alphabet, Amazon, Microsoft, and Meta Platforms on the horizon, market expectations are high for technology stocks, as 80% of S&P 500 companies have already exceeded earnings estimates, projecting a 12% year-over-year increase in Q1 earnings.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
