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How major US stock indexes fared Monday 5/18/2026

Oil prices and stock markets worldwide kept swinging with uncertainty about what will happen with the Iran war.

The S&P 500 swiveled between gains and losses in the morning before ending 0.1% lower Monday, its second straight drop since setting an all-time high last week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.3%, and the Nasdaq composite fell 0.5%.

Stock prices moved in the opposite direction of oil prices, which went from an overnight pop higher to a drop and then yo-yoed again. The latest drop for oil came late in the day after President Donald Trump said he would hold off on a military attack on Iran scheduled for Tuesday.

On Monday:

The S&P 500 fell 5.45 points, or 0.1%, to 7,403.05.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 159.95 points, or 0.3%, to 49,686.12.

The Nasdaq composite fell 134.41 points, or 0.5%, to 26,090.73.

The Russell 2000 index of smaller companies fell 18.20 points, or 0.7% to 2,775.10.

For the year:

The S&P 500 is up 557.55 points, or 8.1%.

The Dow is up 1,622.83 points, or 3.4%.

The Nasdaq is up 2,848.74 points, or 12.3%.

The Russell 2000 is up 293.19 points, or 11.8%.

One Tech Tip: What to know about flying with lithium ion portable battery chargers

Jetting off soon for summer travels? If you're planning on bringing an extra battery charger for your phone or other devices, be aware of the latest rules when taking one on a flight. Rechargeable lithium-ion portable battery chargers, also known as power banks, come in protective enclosures of various shapes and sizes. They're a handy and popular way for getting more juice when you're on the move. But after a spate of smoke or fire incidents, U.S. and international aviation authorities have issued new guidelines and airlines have tightened up rules for passengers. Here's a guide on flying with power banks.
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