Why it matters
- S&P 500 futures were up about 0.29%, Nasdaq 100 futures 0.55% and Dow futures 0.35% around 8:55 a.m. ET on Monday, Oct. 26, Yahoo Finance data showed, as lower oil prices and a big week of tech earnings lifted sentiment, Trading Economics said.
- December Brent crude was down about 1.19% at $115.33 a barrel as Saudi, Pakistani and Turkish officials met Iranian leaders in Tehran to try to avert renewed fighting, the Associated Press reported.
- Treasury auctions $69 billion of two-year notes, with competitive bids due at 1 p.m. ET. The Fed's two-day meeting starts Tuesday, with the decision Wednesday, Oct. 28.
The day ahead: scheduled events and what forecasters expect.
U.S. stock futures rose before the open on Monday, Oct. 26, as oil prices eased on diplomatic efforts to calm tensions with Iran and investors prepared for a heavy week of earnings and a Federal Reserve decision, Trading Economics said. S&P 500 futures were up about 0.29%, Nasdaq 100 futures 0.55% and Dow futures 0.35% around 8:55 a.m. ET, according to Yahoo Finance data. The main U.S. event today is the Treasury's $69 billion two-year note auction at 1 p.m. ET.
Where are futures before the open?
| Market, about 8:55 a.m. ET | Level | Change vs. Friday |
|---|---|---|
| S&P 500 futures | 7,682.25 | +0.29% |
| Nasdaq 100 futures | 29,277.25 | +0.55% |
| Dow futures | 52,578 | +0.35% |
| 10-year Treasury yield (Yahoo market quote, 8:44 a.m.) | about 4.99% | 5.00% Friday, Treasury data |
| WTI crude, December ($/barrel) | 101.30 | −1.91% |
| Brent crude, December ($/barrel) | 115.33 | −1.19% |
| Gold futures ($/ounce, 8:49 a.m.) | 4,034.40 | +0.66% |
| U.S. dollar index (8:49 a.m.) | 101.89 | +0.08% |
Source: Yahoo Finance chart data and Treasury. Levels are delayed and approximate; changes are from Friday's settlement or close.
On Friday the Dow fell 1.23% and the S&P 500 0.52% as Brent jumped 3.1% to settle at $116.72, its highest since June 2022, the Associated Press reported; see our Americas Friday recap. Overseas, the Kospi and Nikkei fell on doubts about AI spending while European stocks rose; see our Asia Monday recap and Europe Monday recap.
Why are oil prices falling today?
Oil eased because diplomacy picked up over the weekend. High-level delegations from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey were in Tehran on Monday to try to avert renewed fighting between Iran and Israel and the United States, the AP reported. Saudi Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman, Pakistani army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir and Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin were to meet Iran's top security officials, and Qatari mediators arrived in Tehran on Sunday, the AP said.
The Houthis claimed missile strikes early Monday on Saudi-backed forces in Yemen, which the AP could not verify, and the Saudi-led coalition said it destroyed missile storage sites and launchers. Crude shipments through the Strait of Hormuz have recovered to near prewar levels, Trading Economics said, but the outlook is uncertain because strikes on Iran could resume after Israel's election on Tuesday, Oct. 27, and the U.S. midterms on Nov. 3.
What is the 2-year note auction today?
The Treasury is selling $69 billion of two-year notes today, according to TreasuryDirect. Noncompetitive bids close at noon ET and competitive bids at 1 p.m. ET; the notes are issued Nov. 2 and mature Oct. 31, 2028. The two-year yield was 4.69% on Friday, Treasury data showed. A $70 billion five-year sale follows Tuesday and a $44 billion seven-year sale Thursday, both at 1 p.m. ET.
Which companies report today?
- Verizon reported before the open. Third-quarter revenue was $34.3 billion, up 1.5%, and adjusted earnings were $1.31 a share, up 8.3%, the company said. It raised full-year guidance for a third straight quarter. Nasdaq's calendar listed a consensus forecast of $1.27. The stock was down about 0.7% in premarket trading, Yahoo Finance data showed, and Trading Economics said revenue missed expectations.
- After the close, Nasdaq's earnings calendar lists Welltower, Cadence Design Systems, Nucor, Public Storage, The Hartford and Celestica.
Brazil-linked shares are also in focus. Voters re-elected President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the AP reported, and the iShares MSCI Brazil ETF was about 26.7% below Friday's close in premarket trading, Yahoo Finance data showed.
What is on the calendar for Fed week?
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Tue., Oct. 27 | Fed's two-day meeting begins; Treasury auctions $70 billion of five-year notes (1 p.m.); Israel holds its election |
| Wed., Oct. 28 | FOMC decision; no Summary of Economic Projections at this meeting |
| Wed.-Thu., Oct. 28-29 | ECB Governing Council meeting; decision and press conference Oct. 29 |
| Thu., Oct. 29 | BEA: third-quarter GDP advance estimate and September personal income and outlays (8:30 a.m.); Treasury auctions $44 billion of seven-year notes (1 p.m.) |
| Thu.-Fri., Oct. 29-30 | Bank of Japan meeting; Outlook Report Oct. 30 |
Sources: Federal Reserve, TreasuryDirect, ECB, BEA, Bank of Japan and the AP.
Most economists expect the Fed to hold rates this week, with another increase possible this year, the AP reported. Alphabet, Microsoft and Amazon report later in the week. Upcoming releases are on our market calendar, and this week's shifted opening times are in our guide to world market hours.
Follow the rest of the trading day on our global market today page, with the latest Asia, Europe and Americas session recaps.
Sources
- Associated Press, US futures climb ahead of big earnings week and another Fed rate call
- Associated Press, Delegations meet in Iran with Mideast region on edge over potential for renewed fighting
- Verizon, third-quarter 2026 results (SEC filing)
- Nasdaq, earnings calendar for Oct. 26, 2026
- TreasuryDirect, upcoming auctions
- U.S. Treasury, daily par yield curve rates
- Federal Reserve, FOMC meeting calendars
- European Central Bank, Meetings of the Governing Council
- Bureau of Economic Analysis, release schedule
- Bank of Japan, Monetary Policy Meetings schedule
- Trading Economics, U.S. stock market and Brent crude oil
- Yahoo Finance, chart data for S&P 500 futures, Nasdaq 100 futures, Dow futures, 10-year Treasury yield, WTI December, Brent December, gold futures, the U.S. dollar index, Verizon and the iShares MSCI Brazil ETF