North American equity markets closed mixed on Friday, 24 July, as falling oil prices supported traditional sectors while renewed concern over artificial intelligence spending weighed on technology shares.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.46%, or 235.60 points, to close at 51,947.25.
The S&P 500 edged 0.05% higher to 7,411.98, while the technology-heavy Nasdaq Composite fell 0.64% to 24,975.82. The Russell 2000 declined 0.35% to finish at 2,930.00.
Despite Friday’s stabilisation, all four American indices ended the week lower. The Nasdaq recorded the largest weekly decline, falling 2.1%, as investors questioned the scale and potential returns of spending on AI infrastructure.
Canada performed more strongly. The S&P/TSX Composite rose 0.50% to 35,369.10, supported by financial and industrial shares. The Toronto index ended the week 0.3% higher.
Oil falls below $97
Brent crude dropped nearly 4% to settle at $96.78 a barrel after briefly moving above $100 during the previous session.
The retreat reduced some inflation concerns and helped government bond yields move lower. However, tensions in the Middle East, trade policy and upcoming technology earnings are expected to remain central to market sentiment.
Newshub Editorial in North America – 25 July 2026
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