AI-Driven Gains Lift Wall Street on Sept 25 Amid Oil-Price and Yield Concerns

On Sept 25, U.S. equity indexes closed higher as AI-related stocks provided the primary boost. Microsoft shares rose about 3–3.7 % after unveiling new Copilot capabilities, while Qualcomm, Dell, and Akamai also posted gains. The S&P 500 ended the session up 0.51 % to 7,743.41 points, the Nasdaq Composite rose 0.48 % to 27,068.72 points, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average increased 0.93 % to 51,828.62 points.

US stocks: Wall Street ends higher as investors buy AI stocks; Microsoft rallies

The rally occurred against a backdrop of elevated oil prices—Brent crude remained above US$100 a barrel—and a surge in U.S. Treasury yields, with the 10-year note reaching a 19-year high near 5.2 %. Geopolitical uncertainty persisted, driven by the ongoing U.S.–Iran conflict and heightened attention to a U.S.–China summit.

Wall Street edges up as AI enthusiasm eases worries over higher oil prices, yields

• Technology sector: Up roughly 1 % for the week, making it the best-performing sector.

US stocks: Wall Street ends higher as investors buy AI stocks; Microsoft rallies

• AI-related earnings expectations: The S&P 500 traded at just under 19 × expected earnings, its lowest multiple since 2023 (LSEG data).

US stocks: Wall Street ends higher as investors buy AI stocks; Microsoft rallies

• Capital-goods demand: AI-related capital expenditures outpaced expectations in August, lifting demand for manufactured capital goods.

US stocks: Wall Street ends higher as investors buy AI stocks; Microsoft rallies

• Fed rate-hike probability: The CME Group’s FedWatch Tool indicated a 64–66 % chance the Federal Reserve will raise rates by at least 25 basis points in October, up from about 50 % earlier in the week.

Wall Street edges up as AI enthusiasm eases worries over higher oil prices, yields

• Trading volume: Approximately 14.9 billion shares changed hands, below the 20-session average of 16.8 billion.

Reuters

U.S. President Donald Trump said he had a “very productive meeting” with Chinese President Xi Jinping, emphasizing personal diplomacy while noting that Chinese assistance to Iran was unacceptable. The meeting was highlighted as a factor supporting market sentiment amid the broader geopolitical landscape.

Wall Street edges up as AI enthusiasm eases worries over higher oil prices, yields

• “That's a positive from the standpoint that people are still investing, deals are still being done,” — Thomas Martin, senior portfolio manager at Globalt Investments in Atlanta

Reuters

• “The amount of money being deployed into the economy from AI investment is just so strong, and we haven’t even seen the productivity piece of it,” — Jamie Harris, managing partner at Harris Financial Group

Wall Street edges up as AI enthusiasm eases worries over higher oil prices, yields

Different outlets reported varying closing levels for the major indexes on Sept 25:

Reuters

• Reuters and BusinessTimes cited the S&P 500 at 7,743.41 points, the Nasdaq at 27,068.72 points, and the Dow at 51,828.62 points.

Wall Street rises on AI stocks despite higher oil prices and bond yields

• Economies reported the S&P 500 at 7,726.62 points, the Nasdaq at 27,048.75 points, and the Dow at 51,576.71 points.

Wall Street rises on AI stocks despite higher oil prices and bond yields

The discrepancy highlights a lack of uniformity in real-time reporting, and no source clarified the cause of the variation.

US stocks: Wall Street ends higher as investors buy AI stocks; Microsoft rallies

Analysts anticipate further scrutiny of AI-driven capital spending as the sector’s valuation expands. Market participants will watch upcoming remarks from Federal Reserve officials—including John Williams, Jeffrey Schmid, and Beth Hammack—for clues on monetary policy direction, given the elevated probability of an October rate hike.

Wall Street edges up as AI enthusiasm eases worries over higher oil prices, yields