Stocks drop on calls for a global slowdown as Brent oil's price hits $109

U.S. stocks fell Monday as artificial-intelligence shares slid worldwide and markets digested a call from industry leaders for a global slowdown “for safety,” alongside another jump in oil prices. The Associated Press reports the S&P 500 dropped 0.6%, while the Nasdaq composite, which holds many more tech stocks, fell 0.8%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 147 points, or 0.3%, as of 10 a.m. Eastern. The pressure comes with Brent oil reaching $109, adding to financial strain. The combination of AI-sector weakness and higher energy costs weighed on equity trading early in the session.