Global Equities Rise While Oil and Gold Retreat
Equity markets posted broad gains on September 18, 2026, with the Nasdaq leading a rally across major indices. Commodity prices moved in the opposite direction as Brent crude and gold both declined from their previous closing levels.
The Nasdaq index closed at 26,418.30, adding 439.88 points during the session. This gain represents a year-to-date increase of 3,176.31 points. The Dow Jones Industrial Average also rose, ending the day at 51,778.04. It gained 316.14 points compared to the previous close. The S&P 500 finished at 7,637.76, up 85.95 points. These figures indicate a positive trend in global stock markets.
Commodity prices showed weakness during the same period. Brent crude oil traded at 103.91 USD per barrel. This represents a drop of 0.91 USD from the previous day's close. WTI crude followed suit, settling at 101.34 USD per barrel. It lost 0.57 USD in value. Gold prices fell to 4,392.80 USD per ounce. The metal declined by 6.90 USD from its prior close. These moves contrast sharply with the strength seen in equity indices.
Asian Markets Mixed Performance
The Nikkei index in Japan gained 213.25 points to reach 64,136.25. This marks a significant year-to-date gain of 13,796.77 points. The Shanghai Composite in China moved in the opposite direction. It lost 16.00 points to close at 3,875.60. The index is down 93.24 points from the beginning of the year. The BIST 100 in Turkey showed strong momentum. It rose 387.18 points to 13,509.76. The RTS index in Russia declined by 16.81 points to 838.30.
European Indices Post Modest Gains
European markets recorded smaller increases compared to their US counterparts. The DAX index closed at 25,716.71, up 178.96 points. The FTSE 100 in the UK gained 127.67 points to hit 10,816.14. The CAC 40 in France rose 46.34 points to 8,186.93. These gains reflect a steady but cautious trading session across the continent. The overall trend remains positive despite the lower magnitude of change.
Currency Movements Across Major Pairs
The Japanese yen strengthened slightly against the US dollar. The JPY/USD pair moved to 157.0300, an increase of 1.0600. The Russian ruble weakened, trading at 84.4411 against the dollar. This represents a decrease of 0.2800 from the previous close. The Turkish lira edged up to 48.7825 per dollar. The Chinese yuan saw a minor dip to 6.6971 against the USD. These shifts indicate varying levels of currency stability and demand. Data is sourced from GN auto markets/forex reports.
