U.S. Stocks Face Oil, Yield Pressure Ahead of Trump-Xi Meeting
Meta is expanding its AI-glasses lineup, while Starbucks, Amazon and Darden Restaurants released updates on technology spending and consumer demand.
U.S. stocks entered Thursday under pressure from higher oil prices and Treasury yields as President Donald Trump prepared to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping at the White House on Sept. 24.
The meeting is part of Xi’s official state visit. The announced schedule does not establish outcomes for trade, artificial intelligence or aircraft discussions. Higher oil prices can increase inflation concerns, while rising long-term Treasury yields can weigh on growth-oriented stocks by raising borrowing costs and reducing the appeal of future earnings.
Meta is expanding its hardware strategy by bringing its Muse personal AI agent to AI glasses. The company also introduced Ray-Ban Meta Audio and additional AI-glasses styles.
Meta’s virtual-reality glasses are scheduled to go on sale in spring 2027 for $1,299.99.
Starbucks plans to close approximately 250 North American coffeehouses later this week, equal to about 1% of its more than 18,000 locations in the region.
Amazon’s Supply Chain Services customers could add Prime delivery to their own websites at no additional cost beyond standard fulfillment fees. A preferred-pricing program will provide fulfillment-fee savings of 15% to 25% during the first six months, without long-term contracts.
Darden Restaurants posted fiscal 2027 first-quarter sales of $3.2 billion, up 5.1% from a year earlier. Diluted earnings per share reached $2.05, while comparable same-restaurant sales increased 3.2%.
Darden said the quarter was a solid start, with positive same-restaurant sales across each segment.
Darden reaffirmed its full-year fiscal 2027 diluted earnings-per-share guidance of $11.10 to $11.35. The Trump-Xi meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 24.
