# Investors stay bullish on stocks despite oil and yield spikes

> Rising bond yields and oil prices haven't shaken investor confidence in equities and AI spending.
- Title: Investors stay bullish on stocks despite oil and yield spikes
- Summary: Rising bond yields and oil prices haven't shaken investor confidence in equities and AI spending. Despite market volatility from rising yields and oil…
- Keywords: stocks, bond yields, oil prices, s&p 500, nasdaq, dow jones, bank of america, blackrock, ubs, treasury yields, fund manager survey, Investors
- Source: CNBC — https://cnbc.com/2026/09/16/investors-bullish-stocks-oil-yields-ai.html
- Author: Chloe Taylor
- Published: 2026-09-16T05:51:13+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: stocks, bond yields, oil prices, ai, s&p 500, nasdaq, dow jones, bank of america, blackrock, ubs, treasury yields, fund manager survey
## Yields hit 5%, oil tops $100
The 10-year Treasury yield breached 5% while oil held above $100 a barrel due to Iran war supply shocks. Markets turned choppy but investors kept buying.
## Stocks still rallying hard this year
The S&P 500 is up 10.8% year-to-date, the Nasdaq jumped 11.8%, and the Dow gained 8.4%. Markets in South Korea, Japan and Europe also rallied.
## Fund managers stay overweight equities
Bank of America's survey of 170 investors managing $470 billion found 49% remained overweight global equities. Stocks were the most common overweight position of any asset class.
## Earnings optimism at highest since 2021
Expectations for double-digit earnings growth over the next year hit their highest level since August 2021. 38% of respondents predicted a global economic boom.
## BlackRock says AI supports growth
BlackRock strategists maintained their pro-risk stance, arguing AI investment can support growth and profits even as it absorbs capital and power.

> Higher rates and strong equities need not be contradictory, what drives yields matters.
## AI volatility creates buying opportunities
Recent AI sell-offs gave longer-term investors a chance to buy in. Data center buildout remains constrained by semiconductor wafers and power access.
## The real AI question is demand
UBS's Mark Haefele said the key isn't whether frontier development slows, but whether AI demand and monetization keep expanding. His answer: yes.

> Stronger AI safeguards may reshape competition, but the proposals so far do not establish that the AI capex cycle is ending.
## Key takeaway

Despite market volatility from rising yields and oil prices, investors remain heavily overweight on stocks, betting AI spending will drive continued earnings growth.