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NEW YORK, United States – U.S. stocks fell sharply on Friday, May 15, 2026, as investors reacted to the conclusion of a high-profile summit between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing and to a surge in global oil prices. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 380.11 points, or 0.76 percent, to 49,681.35. The Nasdaq Composite declined 337.33 points, or 1.27 percent, to 26,297.89, while the S&P 500 lost 65.72 points, or 0.88 percent, to 7,435.27. Selling was broad-based on the New York Stock Exchange, led by mega-cap technology and industrial shares, as investors responded to renewed inflation concerns and rising Treasury yields. BEIJING, China – The market downturn followed the end of a two-day state visit in which Trump and Xi failed to produce finalized trade or technology agreements, including an anticipated 200-plane Boeing order and regulatory clearance for Nvidia’s H200 artificial intelligence chips. U.S. officials said export controls on high-performance semiconductors were not addressed in detail, undercutting expectations for progress on technology transfer. Geopolitical tensions intensified after Xi warned that ongoing friction over Taiwan could risk direct military clashes, while Trump’s subsequent tougher stance on Iran pushed Brent crude near $109 a barrel, deepening concerns over energy costs and pressuring technology and semiconductor shares in particular.

Prepared by Christopher Adams and reviewed by editorial team.