U.S. stocks finished mostly higher on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, as a rotation into defensive and small-cap names lifted the Dow while technology stalled. The S&P 500 rose 21.84 points, or 0.28%, to close at 7,712.57. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained about 530 points, or 1.02%, to 52,495.88. The Nasdaq Composite was essentially flat, slipping 6.07 points, or 0.02%, to 26,424.82. The small-cap Russell 2000 outperformed with a 1.65% gain.
Oil reversal and softer yields: Brent crude touched a five-month high above $110 a barrel overnight after Houthi attacks on Saudi infrastructure, then reversed lower, with WTI easing about 1% to around $97.55. The pullback helped equities recover from a soft open. The 10-year Treasury yield dipped about 3 basis points to roughly 5.11% after weak housing data — September housing starts fell to a 1.221 million annual pace, well below the 1.305 million consensus, and pending home sales dropped 7.3% month over month.
Defensives lead: Health care stocks climbed to record highs, with the Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV) up about 2.2%, while real estate, utilities and financials also gained. Tech was roughly flat as investors waited for Netflix, SpaceX and United Airlines earnings after the bell.
General Motors (GM): Shares fell about 8%, the stock's worst day since July 2025. Third-quarter adjusted EPS of $3.70 and revenue of $50 billion topped estimates, but full-year EPS guidance of $12.75–$13.75 came in below Wall Street's midpoint.
Equifax (EFX): Jumped about 11%, leading large-cap gainers after third-quarter revenue grew 10% year over year, even as the company trimmed its 2026 revenue outlook on weak mortgage activity. Peer TransUnion (TRU) rose about 7%.
3M (MMM): Rose more than 5% after its quarterly report, helping power the Dow's outperformance.
10월 20일(화) 미국 증시는 방어주와 중소형주로의 순환매에 힘입어 다우지수가 1% 넘게 오른 반면, 기술주는 제자리걸음을 했습니다. S&P 500은 0.28% 오른 7,712.57, 다우존스 산업평균지수는 1.02%(약 530포인트) 상승한 52,495.88, 나스닥 종합지수는 0.02% 내린 26,424.82로 마감했습니다. 러셀 2000 지수는 1.65% 올랐습니다.
주요 요인: 후티 반군의 사우디 시설 공격으로 브렌트유가 한때 배럴당 110달러를 넘어 5개월 만의 최고치를 기록했으나 이후 하락 반전하면서 증시가 장 초반 약세에서 회복했습니다. 9월 주택 착공 건수(연율 122.1만 건)와 잠정 주택 판매(-7.3%)가 부진하게 나오면서 10년물 국채 금리는 약 5.11%로 소폭 하락했습니다. 헬스케어 업종은 사상 최고치를 경신했습니다.
주요 종목: 제너럴모터스(GM)는 3분기 실적이 예상을 웃돌았지만 연간 이익 전망이 시장 기대에 못 미치며 약 8% 급락했습니다. 에퀴팩스(EFX)는 매출 10% 성장에 약 11% 급등했고, 3M은 실적 발표 후 5% 넘게 올랐습니다. 장 마감 후에는 넷플릭스, 스페이스X, 유나이티드항공의 실적 발표가 예정되어 있습니다.
Sources: Google Finance (index closes), Benzinga "Stock Market Today" (Oct. 20, 2026). This article is for informational purposes only and is not investment advice.
