Update: US Equity Indexes Fall as 30-Year Treasury Yield Jumps to Highest in 2 Decades, Crude Oil Extends Gains

01:57 PM EDT, 09/24/2026 (MT Newswires) -- (Updates with index/price moves, macroeconomic data, and geopolitical news from the first paragraph.) US equity indexes declined as higher crude oil prices and government bond yields damped risk sentiment. The Nasdaq Composite slipped 0.2% to 26,875.8, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.4% to 51,307.5, and the S&P 500 edged 0.1% lower to 7,695.4 after midday Thursday. All but four sectors, energy, communication services, real estate and healthcare, slumped. Industrials, consumer staples and materials were among the decliners. In economic news, initial jobless claims fell to 197,000 in the week ended Sept. 19 from an upwardly revised 198,000 in the previous week, compared with expectations for an increase to 200,000 in a survey of analysts compiled by Bloomberg. The four-week moving average fell by 1,750 to 202,250. New-home sales rose to an annual rate of 684,000 in August from an upwardly revised 643,000 in July, above the 616,000 expected in a survey compiled by Bloomberg. Home sales were still down 2.0% from August 2025. The Kansas City Fed monthly manufacturing index rose to 14 in September from 10 in August, compared with expectations for 9 in a Bloomberg-compiled poll. Most US Treasury yields rose after midday, with the 10-year yield jumping 4.8 basis points to 5.16%, the highest since 2007. The 30-year rate jumped 5.1 basis points to 5.45%, the strongest level since 2004. A top Iranian military official said Tehran may broaden the war to the Indian Ocean if attacked again by the US or Israel, Bloomberg reported. Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, came under attack from Houthis again, the news report said. Oil prices extended gains amid scant evidence of talks between the US and Iran progressing toward a diplomatic solution to the Middle East conflict, CNBC reported. The front-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil contract climbed 3.7% to $95.58 per barrel, while the global benchmark North Sea Brent advanced 4% to $107.23 per barrel. Gold futures fell 0.8% to $4,285.5, and silver futures declined 2.1% to $63.63. Everpure (P) reaffirmed late Wednesday its fiscal 2027 adjusted operating income guidance of $940 million to $960 million on revenue of $5.03 billion to $5.07 billion. Analysts polled by FactSet expect $959.8 million and $5.05 billion, respectively. Shares rose 14%, the S&P 500's top performer. MGM Resorts International's (MGM) shares slumped 11%, the steepest decline on the S&P 500, after People (PPLI) dropped its offer to acquire the casino operator.