Pakistani health officials confirmed on the 18th that two suicide bombings in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province killed 21 people, including 15 police officers, and injured more than 80.

The American Association of Individual Investors (AAII) weekly survey showed sentiment deteriorated as oil prices stayed high and the Fed delivered its first rate increase since 2023. 53.3% of respondents were bearish and 28.8% bullish, the latter at a one-year low. The bull-minus-bear spread was -24.5%, which AAII said is "exceptionally low" and marks the ninth consecutive week below the 6.5% historical average and the weakest level since May 2025. More than half of respondents report cash allocations above normal; 19.1% say cash is far above normal.

Since the Houthi declaration of a July blockade on Saudi shipping and an escalation of fighting in Yemen, Saudi civil defense has issued repeated danger alerts covering at least 11 cities and provinces: Riyadh, Ha'il, Mecca, Jeddah, Taif, Khamis Mushait, Abha, Jizan, Al-Ula, Yanbu and Sharurah. At least eight locations have received multiple warnings; since Sept. 9 authorities have issued at least 24 location-specific alerts. Abha and Khamis Mushait have each been warned at least four times; Taif at least three; Jeddah, Al-Ula, Yanbu, Riyadh and Ha'il at least twice. A Houthi military spokesman said the group will continue strikes in response to Saudi air raids and denied targeting civilians or attacking Mecca. Houthi strikes have hit cities, military bases and energy infrastructure across Saudi Arabia. This month’s first large wave of attacks injured 73 civilians; subsequent strikes on Khamis Mushait, Abha and Taif injured a further 13. Debris from an intercepted drone in Taif killed one Yemeni resident. The Saudi-led coalition said it will respond firmly to missile and drone attacks and act to protect Saudi sovereignty.