Dow Jones Rises 0.28%, S&P 500 Gains 0.09% as Nasdaq Slips Amid Rising Oil Prices and Earnings

Mumbai, 12 October 2026: US stock markets opened mixed on Monday, 12 October, as the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.28% to 51,798.36, while the S&P 500 advanced 0.09% to 7,818.46. The technology-heavy Nasdaq Composite declined marginally to 27,365.94, down 0.23 points, as semiconductor shares faced pressure. Rising crude oil prices, geopolitical tensions and expectations surrounding third-quarter corporate earnings shaped early trading, with investors also preparing for key US inflation and retail sales data later this week.

Dow Jones Gains 143 Points as S&P 500 Holds Near Record Levels

The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 143.41 points, or 0.28%, to 51,798.36 at approximately 9:46 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). The index opened at 51,765.35 after closing the previous session at 51,654.95. Its trading range during the early session was 51,737.51–51,887.13.

The S&P 500 gained 6.92 points, or 0.09%, to reach 7,818.46 at approximately 9:47 a.m. EDT. The index had closed at 7,811.54 and opened at 7,813.04, trading between 7,812.37 and 7,821.67 during the reported period.

The Nasdaq Composite, however, edged lower to 27,365.94, down 0.23 points from its previous close of 27,366.17. The index opened at 27,352.51 and traded between 27,305.69 and 27,376.66. Although the absolute point decline was limited, losses across several large semiconductor companies weighed on the technology-heavy market.

The Russell 2000 Index, which tracks smaller US companies, fell 4.77 points, or 0.17%, to 2,802.21 at approximately 9:34 a.m. EDT. It had closed at 2,806.98 and opened at 2,805.29, with an early trading range of 2,800.06–2,805.29.

The opening session followed a positive week for Wall Street. The Dow Jones had gained 0.83% on Friday to close at 51,654.95, while the S&P 500 advanced 0.59% to 7,811.54 and the Nasdaq Composite rose 0.64% to 27,366.17. For the week, the Dow gained 0.9%, the S&P 500 advanced 1.2% and the Nasdaq rose 0.6%, extending its weekly winning streak to four consecutive weeks.

Semiconductor Losses Weigh on Nasdaq as Micron Falls Nearly 5%

Technology stocks recorded widespread declines during Monday’s opening session, with several semiconductor manufacturers among the notable losers. Micron Technology fell 4.79%, while Broadcom declined 4.35%, Advanced Micro Devices dropped 3.90% and Nvidia lost 2.94%. Intel fell 5.34%, Arm Holdings declined 6.48% and Marvell Technology dropped 3.52% in the Nasdaq-100 stock heatmap.

The pressure on semiconductor shares followed reports of advances by China’s ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT). The company indicated progress towards a next-generation dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) product, increasing attention on competition in the memory chip market. Micron shares were down more than 2% in pre-market trading before further weakness was reflected in the broader market data.

Other chip-related companies also declined. Lam Research lost 2.71%, Applied Materials fell 2.13%, Western Digital declined 2.99% and Seagate Technology dropped 4.05%. The declines extended to semiconductor equipment and storage businesses, contributing to the Nasdaq’s weaker performance relative to the Dow.

However, technology trading was not uniformly negative. Apple gained 1.11%, while Palantir Technologies advanced 2.40%. Netflix rose 2.68%, and Adobe climbed 3.56%. Intuit gained 2.71%, demonstrating that selected software and consumer technology companies recorded gains despite the broader pressure on chipmakers.

In the S&P 500 heatmap, Oracle declined 5.48%, while Corning fell 6.38% and Sandisk dropped 4.90%. Accenture, by contrast, advanced 5.96%, while International Business Machines (IBM) gained 2.77%. The contrasting moves highlighted differences in performance across individual companies within the wider technology sector.

Salesforce Rises After Upgrade as Analysts Highlight AI Opportunities

Salesforce shares advanced during early trading after analysts upgraded the company’s stock rating and raised its price target. The shares gained approximately 2.50% to $234.85 in the reported trading data, while pre-market trading had shown a rise of more than 4%.

The revised assessment focused on Salesforce’s ability to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into its existing enterprise software products. Analysts indicated that large businesses may continue relying on established platforms that manage business processes, data, workflows and compliance requirements, even as AI adoption expands.

Salesforce shares had declined approximately 14% during 2026 amid concerns about how the adoption of AI could affect demand for conventional software tools. The company had also been trading below its 52-week high. Monday’s advance followed the rating change, placing the stock among the stronger performers in the technology and communication services categories.

Salesforce’s movement also contributed to the Dow’s relative strength, as the company’s shares rose while several major semiconductor stocks declined. Elsewhere, International Business Machines gained 2.77%, while Alphabet’s Class A shares fell 0.63% and its Class C shares declined 0.72%. Microsoft lost 1.35%, while Amazon declined 2.25% in the Nasdaq-100 heatmap.

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Oil Prices Rise Above $100 as Russia-Ukraine Tensions Persist

Crude oil prices moved higher on Monday as developments involving Russia, Ukraine and the Middle East continued to influence energy markets. Brent crude futures traded around $106 per barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures approached $93 per barrel during the reported period.

The increase followed uncertainty surrounding a proposed energy ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine. US President Donald Trump had announced over the weekend that both countries had agreed to stop targeting each other’s energy infrastructure. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy subsequently said Moscow needed to honour the arrangement, raising questions about whether the agreement would hold.

Developments in the Middle East also contributed to attention on oil supplies. Saudi Arabia reported intercepting missiles and drones launched by Houthi rebels backed by Iran following deadly attacks near Riyadh’s international airport. Trump also indicated that the United States could consider joining Saudi Arabia in military action against the Houthis, raising the possibility of further regional escalation.

During early trading, WTI futures were reported up by approximately 0.86% to $92.64 per barrel, while Brent crude rose 0.95% to $105.68 per barrel in one update. Other market updates placed Brent near $106.70 and WTI around $93.40, reflecting different reporting times.

Energy-related equities recorded gains alongside crude prices. Chevron advanced 3.12% in the S&P 500 heatmap, while Exxon Mobil rose 2.71%. ConocoPhillips gained 3.35%, Marathon Petroleum advanced 4.77% and Valero Energy climbed 4.65%. The moves contrasted with declines across several semiconductor and technology companies.

Banks Prepare Third-Quarter Results as Earnings Season Accelerates

The third-quarter corporate earnings season is set to gather pace this week, beginning with major US banks on Tuesday, 13 October. JPMorgan Chase, Goldman Sachs, Citigroup and Wells Fargo are among the financial institutions scheduled to report results, followed by Bank of America and Morgan Stanley on Wednesday.

The reports will provide information on bank profitability, lending activity, trading revenue, dealmaking and the effect of elevated interest rates on business and consumer borrowing. Banks had previously described consumers and companies as resilient, while market conditions included active trading and merger activity. However, higher borrowing costs can also affect credit demand and increase pressure on borrowers.

Analysts expect strong year-on-year earnings growth across the S&P 500. Estimates cited in the supplied market reports range from approximately 29.6% to 30.6% for third-quarter earnings growth. The projections reflect the contribution of technology-related earnings and investment in AI data centres, although the precise aggregate estimate varies by source.

Beyond the financial sector, technology and healthcare earnings will also feature prominently. Semiconductor equipment manufacturer ASML is scheduled to report on Wednesday, followed by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) on Thursday. Johnson & Johnson, UnitedHealth Group and Travelers are also due to report, alongside Charles Schwab and Interactive Brokers.

The financial results will be accompanied by management commentary on operating costs, borrowing conditions, customer activity and the impact of higher energy prices. The reporting period comes as US equity benchmarks trade near record levels following recent gains.

September Inflation and Retail Sales Data Put Economic Conditions in Focus

US economic releases scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday will provide further information on inflation and consumer activity. The September Consumer Price Index (CPI) is due on Wednesday, 14 October, followed by the Producer Price Index (PPI) and retail sales figures on Thursday, 15 October.

The CPI measures changes in prices paid by consumers, while the PPI tracks price changes received by domestic producers. Both indicators are relevant to assessments of inflation across the US economy. Retail sales data will provide information on consumer spending during September, including the period affected by higher fuel costs and borrowing rates.

The Federal Reserve’s Beige Book, a report summarising economic conditions across its districts, is also scheduled for release on Wednesday. Additional releases during the week include the National Federation of Independent Business small-business optimism index and existing-home sales on Tuesday.

Thursday’s economic calendar includes the Empire State manufacturing survey, the Philadelphia Federal Reserve’s business outlook survey and initial jobless claims for the week ending 10 October. Manufacturing and trade inventories data are also scheduled. Import prices, industrial production and capacity utilisation figures are due on Friday.

The releases arrive ahead of the Federal Reserve’s next interest-rate decision on 28 October. Market commentary has highlighted the challenge of assessing persistent inflation alongside economic growth and elevated Treasury yields. The US bond market was closed on Monday for Columbus Day, also observed as Indigenous Peoples’ Day in some locations.

The 10-year US Treasury yield stood at approximately 5.24% at Friday’s close, after briefly approaching 5.37% earlier in October. The two-year Treasury yield was reported at 4.79%. With the bond market closed, these figures reflect the previous trading session rather than fresh Monday bond-market movements.

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Dow Components Gain as Consumer and Energy Stocks Offset Technology Weakness

Trading across major companies showed a clear difference between sectors. In the Dow Jones Industrial Average heatmap, Home Depot advanced 3.39%, McDonald’s gained 2.61% and Walmart rose 2.22%. Coca-Cola climbed 2.27%, Procter & Gamble added 1.87% and American Express advanced 1.27%.

Financial stocks also recorded gains. JPMorgan Chase rose 0.56%, Visa gained 0.81% and Goldman Sachs declined 0.52%. UnitedHealth Group fell 1.34%, while Amgen declined 1.37%. Caterpillar lost 2.17%, illustrating that industrial companies also experienced mixed trading.

Communication services stocks were similarly divided. Netflix gained 2.68%, T-Mobile US advanced 2.18% and Verizon rose 1.27% in the S&P 500 heatmap. These gains followed a previous session in which major US telecommunications companies had fallen sharply after SpaceX announced an agreement to acquire a nationwide portfolio of low-band spectrum licences.

Amazon shares were also in focus following a report that the company was in discussions to acquire software firm Decart for approximately $7 billion. Amazon shares nevertheless declined 2.25% in the Nasdaq-100 heatmap during the reported session.

Separately, Starbucks said it was not pursuing an acquisition of Chipotle Mexican Grill. Chipotle shares had risen following earlier reports of a potential takeover, but subsequently declined. The stock was down approximately 4.08% in the supplied market data, while Starbucks shares showed a smaller decline of 0.40% in the Nasdaq-100 heatmap.

Russell 2000 Loses 0.17% as Small-Cap Stocks Record Sharp Swings

The Russell 2000 Index slipped 0.17% to 2,802.21 during the opening session, underperforming the Dow Jones and S&P 500. Its constituents recorded some of the market’s sharpest individual price movements, particularly among technology, communications equipment, energy and biotechnology companies.

Applied Optoelectronics fell 13.58% in the Russell 2000 heatmap, while MaxLinear declined 12.72%. AXT dropped 10.19%, Hut 8 fell 10.87% and Riot Platforms declined 9.17%. TTM Technologies lost 8.35%, while Vicor fell 7.24% and Cipher Digital declined 7.28%.

Gains were also visible among smaller companies. Haemonetics rose 17.46%, Erasca gained 9.49% and PBF Energy advanced 6.76% in the supplied stock-performance data. Veradermics climbed 14.13%, while The Vita Coco Company rose 10.52%.

The wider small-cap market therefore recorded both substantial gains and steep declines, even as the benchmark index moved only modestly lower. The Russell 2000’s reported 52-week range stood at 2,303.46–3,069.71, compared with its early-session level of 2,802.21.

Stock Gainers and Losers Show Diverging Company-Specific Performance

Among the leading reported gainers, Haemonetics Corporation rose 17.46% to $119.47, an increase of $17.76. Veradermics gained 14.13% to $126.63, while Securitize advanced 11.05% to $12.66. The Vita Coco Company climbed 10.52% to $55.98, and Erasca rose 9.49% to $15.46.

CoStar Group gained 8.01% to $29.81, while Flutter Entertainment advanced 7.55% to $81.58. Okeanis Eco Tankers rose 7.27% to $94.44, and Zillow Group’s listed share class gained 6.93% to $29.17. PBF Energy climbed 6.76% to $89.34, while Monday.com rose 6.47% to $88.91.

Other gainers included Science Applications International Corporation, which advanced 6.25% to $129.71, and Frontline, which gained 5.93% to $59.43. Accenture rose 2.67% to $214.64, while Huron Consulting Group gained 1.89% to $170.20.

On the downside, the reported stock table showed Applied Optoelectronics at $103.87, down 5.26%, and MaxLinear at $92.30, down 4.01%. Coherent declined 3.80% to $300.74, while Astera Labs fell 2.89% to $332.31. Silicon Motion Technology dropped 4.24% to $252.71, and TTM Technologies lost 4.97% to $115.00.

Riot Platforms declined 9.17% to $16.84, while Nebius Group fell 3.93% to $212.37. Tower Semiconductor lost 3.56% to $220.57, and Arm Holdings declined 2.35% to $260.02. These figures reflect the individual share-price movements recorded in the supplied market data and are distinct from the percentage changes shown in the broader index heatmaps.

Also Read: What Is the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE)?

Gold, Bitcoin and Global Markets Record Mixed Movements

Other financial markets also showed mixed trading. Spot gold declined approximately 0.40%, with reported prices around $4,177.47 per ounce, while another update placed gold futures near $4,200 per ounce. The US Dollar Index rose approximately 0.1% to 102.31, with a separate update reporting a level of 102.40, up 0.2%.

Bitcoin traded around $83,500 in one update, gaining approximately 0.70% over 24 hours, while another report placed the cryptocurrency near $82,500, below its overnight high of more than $84,200. These differing levels reflect separate reporting times.

Asian equity markets closed mixed on Monday. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng and Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 advanced, while China’s CSI 300, India’s Nifty 50, South Korea’s Kospi and Japan’s Nikkei 225 declined. European markets were mostly higher during early trading, while European automobile shares advanced following an agreement between the European Union and China concerning hybrid-car exports.

The opening session thus featured modest gains in the Dow Jones and S&P 500 alongside weakness in the Nasdaq Composite and Russell 2000. Energy prices, company-specific developments and the upcoming earnings and economic calendar remained the principal developments shaping the day’s market coverage.

The US market opened mixed on 12 October 2026, with the Dow Jones at 51,798.36, the S&P 500 at 7,818.46 and the Nasdaq Composite at 27,365.94 in the reported early session. Brent crude traded near $106 per barrel. Key scheduled releases include September CPI on Wednesday, PPI and retail sales on Thursday, and third-quarter results from major US banks beginning Tuesday.