Why it matters
- Nasdaq 100 futures were down about 0.44% and S&P 500 futures 0.15% around 8:45 a.m. ET on Tuesday, Oct. 20, while Dow futures were little changed, Yahoo Finance data showed, as worries about data-center financing kept tech stocks volatile, Trading Economics said.
- GE Aerospace, RTX and 3M raised their full-year outlooks before the open, and GM reported adjusted earnings of $3.70 a share, their releases said. Netflix, Intuitive Surgical and Capital One report after the close, according to Nasdaq's earnings calendar.
- U.S. housing starts fell 5.2% in September to a 1.221 million annual rate, the Census Bureau said. The November WTI crude contract expires today, with prices near $105 a barrel.
The day ahead: scheduled events and what forecasters expect.
U.S. stock futures were lower before the open on Tuesday, Oct. 20, as technology shares stayed volatile over concerns about how chipmakers and data-center operators are financing the AI build-out, Trading Economics said. Nasdaq 100 futures were down about 0.44% and S&P 500 futures about 0.15% around 8:45 a.m. ET, while Dow futures were up 0.04%, according to Yahoo Finance data.
Where are futures before the open?
| Market, about 8:45 a.m. ET | Level | Change vs. Monday |
|---|---|---|
| S&P 500 futures | 7,722.75 | −0.15% |
| Nasdaq 100 futures | 29,592.25 | −0.44% |
| Dow futures | 52,202 | +0.04% |
| 10-year Treasury yield | about 5.09% | down from 5.14% |
| WTI crude, November ($/barrel) | 104.97 | +1.26% |
| WTI crude, December ($/barrel) | 99.46 | +0.93% |
| Brent crude ($/barrel) | 110.18 | +0.58% |
| Gold futures ($/ounce) | 4,140.90 | −0.46% |
| U.S. dollar index | 101.74 | −0.24% |
Source: Yahoo Finance chart data. Levels are delayed and approximate; changes are from Monday's settlement or close.
CoreWeave fell 5% premarket after its bonds slid last week, and Micron, Marvell and Arm were each down nearly 3%, Trading Economics said. Walmart, Exxon Mobil and Eli Lilly each rose more than 1%. On Monday the Nasdaq Composite gained 1.11% as chip stocks bounced; see our Americas Monday recap.
Overseas, South Korea's Kospi sank 3.73% on AI worries and European stocks fell for a second day; see our Asia Tuesday recap and Europe Tuesday recap.
What did the housing starts report show?
Privately owned housing starts fell 5.2% in September from August to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,221,000, and building permits slipped 0.2% to a 1,400,000 rate, the Census Bureau said. Starts were 7.4% below their September 2025 rate, it said.
Why is oil higher today?
Houthi attacks on Saudi energy sites, including an Aramco facility in Yanbu and the Shaybah oilfield, kept a geopolitical risk premium in prices, Trading Economics said, citing Kpler data showing at least 18 vessels attacked over the previous two weeks. The November WTI contract, which expires today according to TradingView's contract listing, was at about $104.97 a barrel, up 1.26% from Monday's $103.66 settlement, while the December contract was at about $99.46, Yahoo Finance data showed.
Which companies reported earnings before the open?
- GE Aerospace reported adjusted third-quarter earnings of $2.25 a share, up 36%, on orders up 49% to $19.0 billion, and raised its 2026 guidance, the company said. Nasdaq's calendar listed a consensus forecast of $2.02.
- RTX reported adjusted earnings of $2.26 a share on sales of $25.0 billion, up 11%, and raised its 2026 adjusted EPS outlook to $7.65 to $7.75, the company said. Nasdaq's calendar listed a forecast of $1.78.
- General Motors reported revenue of $50.0 billion and adjusted earnings of $3.70 a share, narrowed its full-year EBIT-adjusted guidance to $14.5 billion to $15.5 billion and approved a new $20 billion share buyback, the company said. Nasdaq's calendar listed a forecast of $3.55.
- 3M reported adjusted earnings of $2.50 a share and raised its 2026 adjusted EPS guidance to $9.10 to $9.15, the company said.
- Northrop Grumman reported sales up 7% to $11.1 billion and diluted earnings of $7.89 a share, and raised its 2026 guidance, the company said.
Which companies report after the close?
Netflix, Intuitive Surgical, Chubb, Capital One and United Airlines are scheduled to report after the close, according to Nasdaq's earnings calendar; companies can change dates. Meta and Tesla follow after the close on Wednesday, according to the calendar.
What is on the Fed and economic calendar?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics releases September state employment and unemployment at 10 a.m. ET today, and third-quarter usual weekly earnings at 10 a.m. Wednesday, according to its schedule. The Fed's October calendar lists no speeches or testimony this week; its weekly H.4.1 balance sheet is due at 4:30 p.m. Thursday. The Fed's next policy meeting is Oct. 27-28, with a decision and a 2:30 p.m. press conference on Oct. 28. Upcoming releases are on our market calendar, and live levels are on the markets page.
Follow the rest of the trading day on our global market today page, with the latest Asia, Europe and Americas session recaps.
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau, Monthly New Residential Construction, September 2026 (Oct. 20, 2026)
- GE Aerospace, third-quarter 2026 results (SEC filing)
- RTX, third-quarter 2026 results (SEC filing)
- General Motors, third-quarter 2026 results (SEC filing)
- 3M, third-quarter 2026 results (SEC filing)
- Northrop Grumman, third-quarter 2026 results (SEC filing)
- Nasdaq, earnings calendar for Oct. 20 and Oct. 21, 2026
- Federal Reserve, Calendar: October 2026
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, October 2026 release schedule
- TradingView, Light crude oil futures contracts
- Trading Economics, U.S. stock market and crude oil
- Yahoo Finance, chart data for S&P 500 futures, Nasdaq 100 futures, Dow futures, 10-year Treasury yield, WTI November, WTI December, Brent crude, gold futures and the U.S. dollar index