US Equity Markets Higher as Tech, Communication Stocks Rise Amid Drop in Government Bond Yields, Crude Oil Prices

04:22 PM EDT, 09/21/2026 (MT Newswires) -- US equity indexes were higher Monday as communication services and technology stocks rose after long-term government bond yields declined and crude oil prices fell. * Among stocks with market capitalization exceeding $200 billion, Arm (ARM), Intel (INTC), and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) were among the top 10 companies, according to data compiled by Finviz. * Iran and the US exchanged new threats on Sunday, although President Donald Trump said he would be open to meeting Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, who is expected to be in New York this week for the United Nations General Assembly, Reuters reported. * October West Texas Intermediate crude oil fell $4.69 to settle at $95.61 per barrel, while November Brent crude, the global benchmark, was last seen down $3.66 at $100.21. * Meta Platforms (META) has initiated a new legal challenge in London against the UK's media regulator, Ofcom, over additional scrutiny under the Online Safety Act, multiple news outlets reported Sunday. Shares of the company were up roughly 11%, one of the top gainers on the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq. * BofA Securities adjusted the share price target for United Parcel Service (UPS) to $108 from $115 while maintaining a neutral rating. The company's stock fell about 4.5%, among the worst performers on the S&P 500.