Stock Market Midday, Sept. 24: Stocks Slide as Treasury Yields Climb, Oracle Declares Force Majeure

Major U.S. indices sold off mid-session September 24, 2026, as Treasury yields climbed for a second consecutive day. The S&P 500 dropped 0.48%, the Nasdaq fell 0.77%, and the Dow declined 0.71%. Rising bond yields, fueled by inflation concerns and geopolitical uncertainty, weighed on equities across the board.

ORCL plunged nearly 5% after the company invoked force majeure on a data center project in New Mexico, halting construction under the contractual clause that allows suspension due to unforeseen circumstances. The move signals potential project delays and cost overruns for the database giant's cloud infrastructure buildout.

META bucked the broader sell-off, posting gains following the launch of new virtual reality glasses and a handheld device. The product release bolsters the company's hardware push as it deepens its bet on immersive computing.

The yield surge continues to pressure growth-sensitive tech names while rewarding investors rotating into sectors with pricing power. With the 10-year Treasury yield pushing higher, the discount rate on future earnings climbs, compressing valuations for high-multiple stocks.