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Closing Brief: Dow Gains 1% on Earnings as Tech Lags and Oil Eases

Mitesh Patel · Oct 20, 2026 · 4 min read

Strong earnings from Equifax, Hasbro and 3M lifted the Dow 1% and healthcare led as oil eased on US-Iran diplomacy hopes, while tech slipped. Netflix fell after the bell on a soft forecast.

Closing Snapshot

  • S&P 500 (SPX): 7,711.06, +20.33, +0.26%
  • Nasdaq 100 (NDX): 29,490.28, -39.07, -0.13%
  • Dow Jones (DJIA): 52,495.88, +529.85, +1.02%
  • Russell 2000 (RUT): 2,773.62, +45.32, +1.66%, small caps led
  • VIX: 17.31, -1.13, the fear gauge easing
  • 10-Year Treasury Yield: 5.12%, down 3 basis points (hundredths of a percentage point)
  • WTI Crude: $101.79, -1.8%, November contract on its expiry day
  • Brent Crude: $108.79, -0.7%
  • Gold: ~$4,143, -0.4%
  • US Dollar Index (DXY): 101.71, -0.27

Earnings did most of the work on Tuesday. The Dow added 1% and the small-company Russell 2000 rose 1.7%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 slipped 0.1% as worries about debt-funded AI spending lingered. Equifax and Hasbro each rose about 11% after topping estimates, 3M gained 5.8% on a raised outlook, and healthcare was the best sector as Eli Lilly and Moderna rallied. Oil eased on hopes of diplomacy between the US and Iran, and the VIX volatility index fell to 17.3. General Motors had its worst day in over a year after cutting its profit outlook, and weak September housing data showed borrowing costs biting.

For information and education only; not investment advice. See the full disclaimer.

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