Wall Street Falls on Inflation Shock and Semiconductor Weakness, Oil Prices Rise Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions

U.S. stock markets closed lower as inflation concerns heightened following a U.S. September consumer price index increase that exceeded expectations.

Worry over potential additional interest rate hikes by the Federal Reserve grew, compounded by a sell-off in AI and semiconductor-related stocks.

On the 14th local time, the Dow Jones Industrial Average finished down 0.09% at 51,621.48.

The S&P 500 index fell 1.11% to 7,718.94, and the Nasdaq Composite dropped 1.88% to 26,692.87.

International oil prices closed higher in the wake of escalating tensions in the Middle East and the International Energy Agency's warnings of supply shortages.

On the ICE Futures Exchange, Brent oil for December delivery rose 0.35% from the previous session to close at $106.06 per barrel.

On the New York Mercantile Exchange, West Texas Intermediate for November delivery finished up 1.01% at $95.09 per barrel.

West Texas Intermediate marked its fifth consecutive session of gains.

In the market that day, concerns over crude oil supply disruptions grew as clashes intensified between Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels and Saudi Arabia.

The International Energy Agency's forecast that the global diesel supply shortage will persist through next year also influenced the rise in oil prices.

(Photo: Getty Images)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.