US Equity Markets End Lower After Meta, Tesla Fail to Meet Expectations, Higher Crude Oil Prices

04:27 PM EDT, 10/22/2026 (MT Newswires) -- US equity indexes were lower Thursday after quarterly results from Meta Platforms (META) and Tesla (TSLA) failed to meet expectations from AI-related investments, and renewed threats between US and Iran pushed crude oil prices higher. * Initial jobless claims fell sequentially to 194,000 in the week ended Oct. 17 from an upwardly revised 200,000, compared with expectations for 200,000 in a survey of analysts compiled by Bloomberg. The four-week moving average slid by 1,000 to 197,750. * The US and Israel have mapped out plans for fresh strikes on Iran after the US midterm elections next month, The New York Times reported, citing US officials. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said renewed attacks could prompt Tehran to invade neighbouring countries and hit bases used in US military operations as part of its new "offensive" strategy, Al Jazeera, a Middle Eastern broadcaster, reported. * December West Texas Intermediate crude oil rose $2.16 to $99.31 per barrel, while December Brent crude, the global benchmark, was last seen up $4.28 at $113.10. * Allegion (ALLE) shares rose roughly 11%, the top gainer on the S&P 500, after the company posted higher fiscal Q3 non-GAAP net income and revenue, and it raised its 2026 guidance. * Moderna (MRNA) shares fell nearly 18%, the worst performer on the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq, after Bloomberg reported that there has been a potential leak of data related to the company's personalized melanoma vaccine developed with Merck (MRK).