Plus, AI jitters at banks and Berkshire’s home-builder bet

Oil prices fell sharply fell for a fifth straight trading session, reaching a two-week low on hopes of a renewed diplomatic push to end the Iran war and optimism over the reopening of a critical pipeline in Saudi Arabia.

Oil prices dropped below $100 a barrel this week amid a stronger-than-expected flows and news about diplomacy with Iran.

Something Chevron's CEO said at an energy conference puts the White House's oil price message in a difficult spot

Happy Tuesday. Stocks were climbing as investors balanced falling oil prices and potential Middle East diplomatic developments against ongoing geopolitical tensions and a strong prior-day market rally. The rally helped push markets higher on Monday, as oil prices and Treasury yields retreated.

The S&P 500 was up 0.6% early on Monday, the Nasdaq Composite climbed 0.9% and the Dow Jones Industrial Average bumped up 0.3% as oil prices fell.

Oil prices sank to a two-week low on Tuesday as Saudi Arabia signalled that it was preparing to restart its key East-West pipeline and resume crude exports from its Red Sea coast.

This week we're feeling temperatures going down, but the cost of oil continues to go up. Some people need that oil to keep their homes warm.

October WTI crude oil (CLV26 ) is down -0.17 (-0.18%) today, and October RBOB gasoline (RBV26 ) is up +0.0673 (+1.94%). Crude oil and gasoline prices are mixed today, with crude falling to a 3-week low.