Markets

The Dow Jumped 556 Points to Its Highest Close in a Month. The Nasdaq Barely Moved

The Dow gained 1.08% to 52,177.69 on October 15, its best close since September 14, as healthcare set a record and yields fell. The S&P 500 rose 0.33% after an early drop; the Nasdaq added 0.08% after opening 1.2% lower.

Oct 16, 2026

For the second day running, the three main US indexes went their separate ways. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 556.21 points, or 1.08%, to 52,177.69, its highest close since September 14. The S&P 500 opened lower, fell as far as 7,669.66 — 0.64% below Wednesday's close — and recovered to finish up 0.33% at 7,744.06. The Nasdaq Composite opened 1.17% lower and clawed its way back to a 0.08% gain at 26,713.03.

The leaders were the same groups that have been winning all month. The Health Care Select Sector SPDR (XLV) rose 1.86% to $177.19, a record close, led by Eli Lilly (+3.55% to $1,251.61) and UnitedHealth (+2.79% to $406.67). Materials gained 1.79%, consumer discretionary 1.71%, financials 1.38%. Small companies had their best day in weeks: the Russell 2000 rose 1.38%, a day after its lowest close since April.

Technology was the only sector of size to fall. The Technology Select Sector SPDR (XLK) lost 0.65%, its fourth straight decline, with chip stocks down for an eighth session. Apple briefly crossed $5 trillion in market value during the session, according to Yahoo Finance, only the second time it has done so, but closed 0.28% lower.

Falling Treasury yields did much of the work. The 10-year yield dropped to 5.09%, its lowest close since September 22, after a producer price report whose 1.3% jump was mostly gasoline and a retail sales report that was weak once fuel was excluded. The VIX eased 2.43% to 16.46.

For the week, according to the Associated Press, the Dow is up about 1%, the S&P 500 down 0.9% and the Nasdaq down 2.4%: a market that is not falling so much as changing hands, from the AI complex to healthcare, staples, retailers and banks.