Mixed US Stock Market as Soaring Oil Prices Impact Sentiment
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Apr 29 2026
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Source: NASDAQ.COM
- Oil Price Surge Affects Market: WTI crude oil prices have surged over 4% due to the US maintaining its naval blockade of Iran, reaching a two-week high, which has raised inflation expectations and negatively impacted the stock market.
- Strong Performance in Tech Stocks: The Nasdaq 100 index is up 0.20%, primarily driven by NXP Semiconductors and Seagate Technology, both rising over 10% after reporting stronger-than-expected earnings, indicating robust demand for AI infrastructure.
- Housing Data Exceeds Expectations: US March housing starts unexpectedly rose by 10.8% to 1.502 million, significantly surpassing the expected decline to 1.380 million, demonstrating resilience in the construction sector that may support the stock market.
- Stable Fed Policy Expectations: The market anticipates that the Fed will keep interest rates unchanged at the upcoming meeting, as further developments in oil prices and inflation are still under observation, reflecting a cautious approach to future economic policy.
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.
