In brief
The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 0.41% to 51,983.98, but the S&P 500 fell 0.51% to 7,541.40 and the Nasdaq dropped 1.07% to 25,164.32. The tech‑heavy index led the rout, while a 7% plunge in oil prices buoyed industrial and non‑energy stocks. Sector analysis shows consumer discretionary and materials gained, while energy and technology lagged.
On Monday, U.S. stocks finished mixed: the Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced 213.67 points, or 0.41 %, to 51,983.98; the S&P 500 slipped 38.67 points, or 0.51 %, to 7,541.40; and the Nasdaq Composite fell 272.68 points, or 1.07 %, to 25,164.32.
Technology shares erased early‑session gains, with the Nasdaq falling 1.07 %. Shares of Apple declined 1.83 % ahead of the company’s fiscal fourth‑quarter earnings release, a drop reported only by Xinhua.
Oil prices were the biggest backdrop to the day’s movement. Brent crude settled $104.77 a barrel and WTI fell to $96.46, reflecting a drop of more than 7 % at settlement—figures corroborated by both Xinhua and the Saudi Press Agency.
Industrial and non‑energy stocks benefited from the oil dip. Home‑improvement retailer Home Depot advanced 3.6 %, Sherwin‑Williams surged nearly 6 %, and conglomerates Honeywell International, 3M, and Boeing each climbed more than 2 %. These gains helped lift the Dow.
Sector performance varied: consumer discretionary added 2.25 % and materials added 1.83 %, leading the gains among seven of the 11 S&P 500 sectors. Energy and technology lagged, tumbling 3.97 % and 2.66 % respectively, as semiconductor makers faced ongoing selling pressure.
Manufacturing activity, as measured by the S&P Global U.S. Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index, was revised down to 54.9 in October from an initial estimate of 56. While the gauge still signals expansion—being above the 50 threshold for 15 consecutive months—consumers noted a modest slowdown amid supply‑chain disruptions and persistent input‑cost pressures. Investors also remained focused on artificial‑intelligence developments following releases by Anthropic and evolving market sentiment.
