Global Stocks Fall on Higher Oil Prices, AI Pullback

By Joe Stonor

U.S. stock futures fell and Treasury yields rose in early European trade, as rising oil prices and a fresh artificial-intelligence wobble combined to weigh on sentiment.

Nasdaq futures fell 0.5% after Samsung Electronics earnings in Korea disappointed markets. The chip maker recorded a ninefold jump in operating profit yet the print was below market expectations, prompting a 2.4% fall in the stock and a broader drop in Asian tech stocks. U.S. chip makers fell premarket.

Other major indexes were in the red. Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 0.7%, while S&P 500 futures fell 0.3%. In Europe, higher oil and natural gas prices--combined with fiscal concerns around France and disappointing German export data--dragged on stocks. The Europe-wide Stoxx 600 fell 1.3% to its lowest level since June.

Brent crude oil prices jumped by 4% to top $104 a barrel while WTI rose above $91.50 a barrel on heightened concerns of U.S.-Iran escalation. The White House asked the Pentagon to develop options for strikes against Iran ahead of the midterm elections next month, according to a report in The Atlantic.

Meanwhile, a tanker was struck off the coast of Qatar, according to United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, while Houthi militants escalated attacks on Saudi Arabia. The approach of a tropical storm in the Gulf of Mexico also prompted supply concerns, with Shell and Chevron both halting production at several sites.

In bond markets, yields rose further. Yields on 30-year Treasurys rose 5 basis points to top 5.710%, while 10-year yields rose by a similar amount to trade around 5.330%. Both levels are below intraday highs in the last session, but remain within reach of multidecade peaks.

The dollar's upward march continued, while bitcoin slipped toward $83,000. Gold prices nudged up following the Federal Reserve's September meeting minutes, which showed minimal urgency for an October rate hike. Futures in New York edged up to $4,143.40 a troy ounce.

For the day ahead, the European Central Bank is due to publish minutes from its September meeting, while a handful of Federal Reserve officials speak, including Governor Christopher Waller.

Write to Joe Stonor at josephmichael.stonor@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

October 08, 2026 04:30 ET (08:30 GMT)