Dow Jones Surges 529 Points on Earnings and Falling Oil Prices; European Markets Close Lower Amid France Unrest

Key summary

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed up 529.85 points (+1.02%) at 52,495.88 on October 20, 2026, driven by strong corporate earnings and a decline in crude oil prices that offset pressure on AI-related stocks. The S&P 500 rose 0.28% to 7,712.57, while the Nasdaq fell 0.02% to 26,424.82. Healthcare stocks led gains with Eli Lilly contributing most to the S&P 500 rise, alongside UnitedHealth, Merck & Co, Johnson & Johnson, and Amgen pushing the Dow higher. 3M rose over 5% after beating earnings expectations. General Motors dropped 6.8% citing rising raw material costs and declining pickup truck sales. Technology stocks lagged ahead of SpaceX and Netflix earnings. European markets closed lower: STOXX 600 down 0.14%, FTSE 100 down 0.29%, CAC 40 down 0.38%, and DAX down 0.06%, with French protests impacting investor sentiment. Oil prices fell, with WTI closing at $101.79/barrel and Brent at $108.79/barrel.