Nasdaq Jumps 1.2% as Chip Stocks Rally, Oil Slides and Fed Meeting Begins

Mumbai, 27 October 2026: US equities closed higher on Tuesday, with technology and semiconductor shares leading the advance as investors weighed a fresh wave of corporate earnings, a sharp pullback in crude oil prices and the opening of the Federal Reserve’s two-day policy meeting. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 15.99 points, or 0.03%, to 52,377.57, while the S&P 500 rose 0.60% to 7,722.60. The Nasdaq Composite gained 1.18% to 26,477.81, and the Russell 2000 advanced 1.16% to 2,818.87. The session reflected strength in chipmakers, weakness in energy producers and a modestly firmer dollar ahead of Wednesday’s Fed decision.

Dow Jones Gains 16 Points as Boeing Slump Offsets Chip-Led Market Strength

The Dow Jones Industrial Average opened at 52,277.49 and closed at 52,377.57, a gain of 15.99 points, or 0.03%. The blue-chip benchmark touched an intraday high of 52,477.91 and a low of 52,231.84. A 10.7% decline in Boeing shares acted as the heaviest drag on the price-weighted index, erasing roughly $14.5 billion of the planemaker’s market value, after management signalled a slower-than-expected ramp in 737 Max production.

The slump in Boeing was partly offset by gains in chip-linked and industrial constituents, with Nvidia up 0.90%, Apple 0.93% and Caterpillar 3.11%. Coca-Cola slipped 1.62% after reporting slowing North American demand, while Chevron fell 1.59% as crude oil weakened. The index’s narrow gain came as investors rotated toward technology shares and away from energy and select consumer names.

S&P 500 Rises 0.6% as Chip Stocks Extend Second Straight Rally Today

The S&P 500 opened at 7,699.47 and ended at 7,722.60, gaining 45.83 points, or 0.60%. During the session, the broad benchmark reached a high of 7,736.24 and a low of 7,677.16. Semiconductor and technology constituents drove the advance, with Advanced Micro Devices rising 5.45%, Broadcom 4.00% and Micron Technology 2.77%.

The gains extended Monday’s rebound in chip stocks, which had followed Anthropic’s public IPO filing and a wave of AI-related financing announcements. Energy was the weakest corner of the index, with Exxon Mobil down 2.52% and ConocoPhillips 2.24%, as Brent and WTI crude settled lower.

Financials were mixed, with Goldman Sachs up 2.10% and Charles Schwab down 0.53%. The index’s closing performance came as six of the 11 S&P 500 sectors finished higher, led by technology.

Nasdaq Composite Gains 1.2% as AI Enthusiasm Lifts Broader Technology Shares Today

The Nasdaq Composite opened at 26,286.31 and closed at 26,477.81, marking a gain of 308.43 points, or 1.18%. Its intraday high stood at 26,540.81, while the low was 26,219.31. Technology and growth-oriented shares recorded broad advances, with Tesla up 3.99%, Amazon 1.61% and Alphabet 1.19%. Nvidia added 0.90%, while Microsoft edged down 0.24% and Meta Platforms fell 1.64%.

The technology-heavy benchmark responded to renewed enthusiasm for AI infrastructure spending, reinforced by Broadcom’s arrangement of $63 billion in financing for Anthropic’s chip purchases and Nvidia’s agreement to invest $3 billion in Meta’s equity offering. The index’s gain came even as Apple rose only 0.93% and Netflix declined 2.17%, reflecting a market that rewarded semiconductor exposure over mega-cap software and streaming names.

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

Russell 2000 Gains 1.2% as Smaller Stocks Advance Amid Falling Oil Prices

The Russell 2000 opened at 2,792.85 and closed at 2,818.87, gaining 32.44 points, or 1.16%. It recorded an intraday high of 2,820.98 and a low of 2,788.59. Smaller-cap companies participated broadly in the risk-on move, with Credo Technology Group up 10.77%, Applied Digital 9.42% and IonQ 7.15%.

The advance came as crude oil prices retreated, easing input-cost concerns for small industrial and consumer companies, while Treasury yields held near recent levels. The Russell 2000’s gain exceeded the S&P 500’s 0.60% rise, indicating that market strength extended beyond the largest technology names during the closing session.

S&P 100 Gains 0.7% as Large-Cap Technology Shares Lead Broader Market Advance

The S&P 100 opened at 3,817.96 and finished at 3,831.79, recording a gain of 27.51 points, or 0.72%. The index traded between 3,808.60 and 3,840.63 during the session. Movements in major large-cap constituents drove the benchmark, with Advanced Micro Devices up 5.45%, Broadcom 4.00% and Tesla 3.99%.

Apple added 0.93%, while Microsoft slipped 0.24% and Meta Platforms declined 1.64%. The index’s advance reflected the same technology-led bid that lifted the Nasdaq Composite, though its more diversified large-cap base tempered the gain relative to the 1.18% rise in the tech-heavy benchmark.

Dow Composite Gains 0.5% as Transport Rally Offsets Utility Sector Modest Gain

The Dow Jones Composite Average opened at 16,420.97 and closed at 16,505.56, gaining 79.62 points, or 0.48%, after moving between 16,396.42 and 16,525.53. The Dow Jones Transportation Average ended at 20,547.52, compared with an opening level of 20,277.58, representing a 1.70% gain of 342.70 points. The Dow Jones Utility Average closed at 1,103.43, changing 0.59% from its opening level of 1,095.90.

The transport gauge benefited from UPS’s 5.83% advance following better-than-expected quarterly results and raised guidance, while the utility average drew support from Constellation Energy’s 2.53% gain after the Department of Energy offered a $5 billion conditional loan for nuclear plant upgrades. The composite’s advance reflected strength in transport and utility constituents, partly offset by weakness in Boeing and Chevron.

SOX Surges 3.6% as Broadcom’s $63 Billion Anthropic Deal Lifts Chip Stocks

The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) opened at 11,251.73 and closed at 11,482.50, gaining 399.04 points, or 3.60%. Its intraday high was 11,527.33, while the low was 11,217.67. Semiconductor-related constituents advanced broadly, with Advanced Micro Devices up 5.45%, Broadcom 4.00% and Micron Technology 2.77%. Nvidia added 0.90%, while Marvell Technology rose 4.19% and ON Semiconductor gained 4.27%.

The sector benchmark’s strong performance came as a coalition of banks, including Bank of America, Citigroup, Morgan Stanley and Blackstone, arranged $63 billion in financing for Anthropic’s purchase of Broadcom technology, reinforcing expectations for continued AI infrastructure spending.

Also Read: How to invest in US stocks

NYSE Composite Gains 0.1% as Energy Weakness Limits Broader Market Upside Today

The NYSE Composite Index opened at 24,207.11 and closed at 24,210.83, recording a gain of 23.97 points, or 0.099%. The index traded between 24,141.14 and 24,236.56 during the session.

Movements across energy, financial and industrial segments shaped the benchmark’s performance, with integrated oil majors Exxon Mobil and Chevron declining 2.52% and 1.59% respectively, while semiconductor and technology-linked listings advanced. The modest gain reflected a market in which technology strength was largely offset by weakness in energy and select defensive sectors, leaving the broad NYSE composite only marginally higher at the close.

S&P MidCap 400 Gains 0.4% as SmallCap 600 Rises 0.5% Broadly Today

The S&P MidCap 400 opened at 3,648.09 and closed at 3,657.50, moving 14.59 points or 0.40%, with an intraday range of 3,633.00 to 3,659.42. The S&P SmallCap 600 opened at 1,692.22 and ended at 1,698.59, gaining 9.07 points or 0.54%, after trading between 1,685.40 and 1,698.64.

The two benchmarks reflected gains among mid- and small-cap shares as falling crude oil prices and steady Treasury yields supported risk appetite beyond the largest technology names. The small-cap gauge’s 0.54% advance slightly outpaced the mid-cap index’s 0.40% gain, indicating broader participation across the lower-capitalisation segments of the US equity market.

Oil Below $100 and Yields Near 5% Shape Fed-Eve Market Direction Today

The principal market catalyst was the slide in crude oil prices as investors assessed the possibility of a de-escalation in the Middle East conflict. Brent crude settled at $113.88 a barrel, down 1.67%, while West Texas Intermediate settled at $99.90, down 1.83%. The move followed reports that Iranian officials had discussed conditions for ending hostilities, easing immediate concerns about supply disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz.

Treasury yields held near recent highs, with the 10-year yield at 4.99%, just below the 5% mark, as the Federal Reserve began its two-day policy meeting. The central bank is widely expected to keep the federal funds rate at a target range of 3.75% to 4% on Wednesday, with markets pricing only about a 10% probability of a hike.

A second catalyst was the continued flow of corporate earnings, including better-than-expected results from UPS and SoFi Technologies, which supported the technology and small-cap segments. Trading remained focused on the Fed’s rate decision and the durability of AI-related capital spending, with movements across semiconductor, energy and transport shares reflecting those twin concerns.

VIX Falls 4.7% to 17.53 as Volatility Eases Across Major US Indices

The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) changed -4.7% to 17.53, compared with its previous close of 18.39. The index measures expected volatility in the S&P 500 over the coming 30 days. Its decline during the session coincided with the S&P 500’s 0.60% advance and the Nasdaq Composite’s 1.18% gain, as investors reduced demand for near-term portfolio protection amid the technology-led rally and ahead of the Fed decision. The VIX remained above its long-term average but ended well below the levels reached during the prior week’s AI-related sell-off.

Technology Leads Six S&P 500 Sectors as Energy Falls Nearly 2% Today

Performance across the 11 S&P 500 sectors was mixed, with six groups finishing higher. Information Technology recorded the strongest move at 1.5%, followed by Consumer Discretionary at 1.4% and Industrials at 0.9%. Materials gained 0.4% and Utilities 0.3%. Communication Services was the weakest sector, declining 1.6%, while Energy fell 1.9% as crude oil prices retreated.

Consumer Staples and Real Estate each declined 0.8%, Financials slipped 0.1% and Health Care eased 0.2%. The sector movements followed the technology-led bid in semiconductors, the pullback in oil-linked equities and a modest rotation away from defensive and rate-sensitive groups.

Also Read: US Stock Market Timings 

Magnificent Seven Diverge as Tesla Gains 4% and Meta Falls 1.6% Today

Among the Magnificent Seven, Tesla moved 3.99% higher after jumping 5% to pace the group on Monday, Amazon gained 1.61% and Alphabet rose 1.19%. Apple added 0.93% and Nvidia advanced 0.90% after saying it would invest $3 billion in Meta Platforms’ equity offering. Microsoft slipped 0.24%, while Meta Platforms declined 1.64% following its announcement of a $95 billion equity offering to fund AI infrastructure; the stock had declined almost 2% on Monday.

The Roundhill “MAGS” exchange-traded fund, which tracks the septet, was 1% higher after closing up roughly 1% on Monday. The divergence within the group contributed to the Nasdaq Composite’s 1.18% gain, as strength in Tesla, Amazon and Alphabet outweighed weakness in Meta and Microsoft.

Meta’s decline came after the Facebook parent disclosed in a regulatory filing that it intends to raise up to $95 billion in a series of stock offerings, while Nvidia’s 0.90% advance followed its commitment to invest $3 billion in that offering. The group’s mixed performance came as the S&P 500 rose 0.60% and the Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.03% during the closing session.

Semiconductor Stocks Surge 3.6% as Financial and Energy Shares Diverge Sharply Today

Semiconductor stocks were sharply higher, with the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index moving 3.60% and the iShares Semiconductor Exchange-Traded Fund gaining 3.5%. Financial stocks recorded a mixed trend, with Goldman Sachs up 2.10%, Morgan Stanley 1.90% and Citigroup 1.35%, while Charles Schwab slipped 0.53%.

Energy stocks moved lower alongside crude oil, with the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund falling 1.9% and refiners Valero Energy and Phillips 66 each declining about 7% and 6% respectively. AI and growth stocks were higher, with Applied Digital up 9.4%, Credo Technology 9.0% and Fervo Energy 9.3%, contributing to the technology-heavy indices’ advance.

Durable Goods Rise 1.8% as Consumer Confidence Jumps to 91.7 in October

The latest economic data showed durable goods orders rising 1.8% in September, up from a 0.1% increase in August and slightly above the 1.7% consensus forecast. Excluding transportation, orders increased 0.5%, while orders excluding defence jumped 2.2%. The Conference Board’s consumer confidence index posted a reading of 91.7 in October, up 7.5 points from September and well above the 81 forecast, as gasoline prices eased. The releases provided the latest information on manufacturing demand and household sentiment during the session, ahead of the Federal Reserve’s policy decision.

Fed Meeting Begins as 10-Year Treasury Yield Holds Near 5% Mark Today

The Federal Reserve remained a key focus as policymakers began their two-day meeting on Tuesday to assess whether hotter-than-expected inflation warrants a rate increase. The central bank is expected to keep the federal funds rate at a target range of 3.75% to 4%, with markets pricing only about a 10% probability of a hike, according to CME Group data.

The 2-year US Treasury yield stood at 4.73%, while the 5-year yield was 4.839% following the Treasury’s $70 billion auction. The 10-year Treasury yield stood at 4.99%, and the 30-year yield was 5.31%. The yield curve remained relatively flat as investors awaited the Fed’s statement and guidance on the path of rates into year-end.

Brent Falls 1.7% to $113.88 as Middle East De-Escalation Hopes Grow Today

Brent crude traded at $113.88 a barrel, changing -1.67%, while West Texas Intermediate crude stood at $99.90, moving -1.83% as traders assessed the prospect of a de-escalation in the Middle East conflict.

The decline followed reports that Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei and his top national security official Mohsen Rezaei had discussed the country’s conditions for ending hostilities, with the Strait of Hormuz remaining a focal point in negotiations and attacks by Iran-backed Houthi rebels in the Red Sea having widened the scope of the conflict. Gold traded at $4,075 an ounce, changing 0.9%, while silver moved 0.4% to $54.55, as precious metals drew support from steady inflation-hedging demand and the uncertain geopolitical backdrop.

The oil decline coincided with the equity market’s technology-led advance, with the energy sector falling 1.9% and refiners Valero Energy and Phillips 66 declining about 7% and 6% respectively as diesel and gasoline futures dropped roughly 2% and 1.5%. The commodity moves reflected a market pricing in reduced immediate supply risk while retaining caution over the broader conflict’s trajectory and its implications for global energy flows.

Also Read: What Are Fractional Shares? 

Dollar Index Rises 0.35% to 102.32 as Euro Slips to $1.1135 Today

The US Dollar Index (DXY) moved 0.4% higher to 102.33, drawing support from the rise in US Treasury yields and the start of the Federal Reserve’s two-day policy meeting. The dollar’s advance came as the 10-year Treasury yield held near 5.00% and the 2-year yield rose 1 basis point to 4.73%, with the yield differential supporting the greenback against major currencies.

EUR/USD stood at 1.1135, USD/JPY traded at 157.95, and GBP/USD was at 1.3313, with the euro and sterling both weakening against the dollar as investors positioned for the Fed’s statement and any signal on the pace of future rate increases.

Currency movements followed the market’s expectation that the central bank will keep the federal funds rate at a target range of 3.75% to 4% on Wednesday while retaining scope for a hike before year-end. The dollar index’s gain coincided with the technology-led equity rally and the pullback in crude oil prices, as investors balanced the prospect of sustained higher rates against improved risk appetite across US equity benchmarks. The closing session was shaped by a technology-led rally in semiconductor shares, a sharp pullback in crude oil prices and the opening of the Federal Reserve’s two-day meeting. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.03%, the S&P 500 rose 0.60% and the Nasdaq Composite advanced 1.18%, while the VIX fell to 17.53, Treasury yields held near 5% and Brent crude settled at $113.88. These figures provide a factual summary of the session’s key market developments.