Update: US Equity Indexes Fall in Midday Trading as Consumer Sentiment Slumps Amid Growing Geopolitical Tensions

01:38 PM EDT, 09/29/2026 (MT Newswires) -- (Updates with index/price action, macroeconomic data, corporate developments, and geopolitical news from the first paragraph.) US equity indexes fell after midday trading on Tuesday as Treasury yields continued to rise amid deteriorating consumer sentiment over higher prices and intensifying geopolitical tensions. President Donald Trump rejected an Axios report that he had offered Tehran sanctions relief in return for concrete steps regarding the country's nuclear program. Iran's Revolutionary Guard spokesperson Gen. Hossein Mohebbi urged Americans to "revise their decision" about their leaders, adding that military action or economic sanctions would not get Tehran to submit, according to a Tuesday report from the Associated Press. The Nasdaq Composite fell 0.2% to 26,744.6. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.6% to 51,167.6, while the S&P 500 declined by 0.3% to 7,656.2. Consumer staples and materials sectors led the decliners. The 10-year US Treasury yield climbed 4.1 basis points to 5.29%, and the 30-year rate rose 4.7 basis points to 5.61%. The US West Texas Intermediate crude oil contract fell 2.3% to $90.47 per barrel. In economic news, The Conference Board's measure of consumer confidence fell to 81.9 in September from 88.6 in the month prior, compared with an expected rise to 89.0 in a Bloomberg-compiled survey. The present situation print declined to 109.3 from 117.2, while the expectations reading fell to 63.6 from 69.5. "References to prices, the high cost of goods and services, and oil and gas prices in particular, rose to new heights, reflecting September's surge in fuel costs," said Dana Peterson, chief economist at The Conference Board. US job openings in August declined to 7.079 million from 7.335 million openings in July, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, compared with 7.228 million openings expected in a Bloomberg-compiled survey. Hiring climbed to 5.192 million in August from 5.146 million in July, while separations fell in the month to 5.070 million from 5.128 million in July. The Federal Housing Finance Agency said Tuesday that US single-family home prices in July rose 0.3% nationwide, after a flat reading in the previous month, and above the 0.1% gain expected in a Bloomberg-compiled survey. The Case-Shiller National Home Price index increased by 0.1% in July before seasonal adjustment, after a 0.4% increase in June. National home prices rose 1.9% year-over-year in July, up from 1.6% in the month prior. In company news, AT&T (T) and Corning (GLW) agreed to a multi-year deal worth over $3 billion for Corning to supply fiber and cable to support AT&T's network expansion roadmap, the companies said Tuesday. AT&T shares were down 0.7%, while Corning shares were up 4.1%. Piper Sandler (PIPR) has been in talks to acquire Perella Weinberg Partners (PWP) in a deal that could be finalized soon, The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday, citing people with knowledge of the matter. Discussions are underway, but a deal is not guaranteed, the report said. Piper Sandler shares were down 5.8%, while Perella Weinberg shares were up 13%.