Economy news · 26 October 2026
Oil Retreats from Near Six-Month Highs as Qatar Mediates US-Iran Tensions
Brent crude fell $2.21, or 1.89%, to $114.51 a barrel on Monday as Qatari mediators travelled to Tehran seeking de-escalation between the US and Iran, though analysts warned the reprieve could be short-lived.
Dow Falls 1.2% as Three Central Banks Prepare to Set Rates This Week
The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 1.23% on Monday while the Nasdaq slipped just 0.21%, with losses concentrated in traditional industrial and rate-sensitive stocks ahead of a week packed with central-bank decisions from the US Federal Reserve, the European Central Bank and the Bank of Japan.
Microsoft, Alphabet and Amazon — 15% of the S&P 500 — All Report Earnings This Week
Microsoft, Alphabet and Amazon together account for roughly 15% of the S&P 500, and their back-to-back earnings reports on October 28 and 29 represent the index's biggest scheduled test remaining in 2026.
Spain: Having a Job Is No Longer Enough to Afford a Home
House prices in Spain have risen 84.6% since 2015 while wages grew just 27.85%, leaving one in three working renters below the poverty line after paying rent and pricing out an entire generation from home ownership.
Fed Expected to Hold Rates Wednesday as December Hike Odds and Big Tech Earnings Come Into Focus
CME FedWatch data puts the probability of a rate hold at roughly 88%, but futures markets are pricing around an 80% chance of another hike in December, making Chair Kevin Warsh's press conference and Thursday's GDP and inflation data the real events to watch.