US stocks: Nasdaq ends lower as oil prices surge ahead of earnings, economic data

The Nasdaq ended lower as oil prices surged, putting renewed focus on the market ahead of upcoming corporate earnings and economic data.

Markets await earnings and economic data

The decline in the technology-focused index came as investors looked toward two closely watched sources of market information: company earnings and forthcoming economic figures. The available report does not provide details on the size of the Nasdaq’s move or identify individual stocks behind the decline.

At the same time, the jump in oil prices formed a key part of the session’s market backdrop. Higher oil prices can remain an important consideration for businesses and investors, but the source does not specify the cause of the increase or its broader effect on the economy.

What comes next

Attention now turns to the release of earnings reports and economic data. Those developments may provide further information about market conditions, although no specific outlook or forecast was provided.