Stocks approach records as dropping oil prices ease stress | Arkansas Democrat Gazette

Stocks barely paused near record territory as oil prices declined, easing inflationary pressure on households and businesses. The S&P 500 rose 1.24 points to 7,520.36, the Dow jumped 182.60 to 50,644.28, and the Nasdaq gained 18.55 to 26,674.73, all closing at or near record levels after a previous session. Oil prices tumbled earlier, with Brent crude slipping 4.6% to $92.25 and U.S. crude down 5.5% to $88.68 on Wednesday, before a late recovery in some markets. Energy shares helped the rally, though investors remained cautious about inflation and corporate profits in early 2026.