Stories
US Markets Set to Open Lower as AI Stocks Slide and Oil Surges Past $100
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CNBC TV18•20-10-2026, 18:03
US Markets Set to Open Lower as AI Stocks Slide and Oil Surges Past $100
- •US stock futures were mixed on Tuesday, with Nasdaq futures falling 0.5% and S&P 500 futures dropping 0.1% due to selling pressure in technology shares.
- •Investor concerns are mounting over heavy spending and borrowing for AI infrastructure, highlighted by Elice Group plunging 30% and CoreWeave falling 4.5%.
- •Crude oil prices climbed above $100 a barrel as ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and uncertainty surrounding Iran disrupted energy supplies.
- •European markets also traded lower as protests over housing crises, rising fuel bills, and public services affected France, Italy, and Albania.
- •Investors are closely watching upcoming quarterly earnings reports from Netflix and SpaceX, alongside the Federal Reserve's potential interest rate decisions.
Key Questions Answered
Investors are growing increasingly concerned over the heavy spending, borrowing costs, and financial risks required to build artificial intelligence infrastructure, alongside the prospect of the US Federal Reserve raising interest rates for a second time this year.
Crude oil prices have climbed as ongoing conflict in the Middle East and uncertainty involving Iran cloud the outlook for energy supplies, raising doubts about when production and supply chains can return to normal.
European stocks traded lower as political and economic discontent added to investor concerns, with France's CAC 40 falling 0.8%, Germany's DAX declining 0.8%, and the UK's FTSE 100 slipping 0.6% amid weeks of protests over rising fuel bills and a housing crisis.
