Opening Comment — Tuesday, October 27, 2026
DJIA: 52,361.58, up 146.42
S&P 500: 7,676.77, up 53.09
NASDAQ: 26,169.38, up 214.04
Stocks higher before consumer confidence
Stock futures are higher Tuesday morning ahead of today’s economic releases, with investors awaiting data on October consumer confidence, September durable goods orders, and the housing market. Investors are also looking ahead to tomorrow’s Federal Open Market Committee meeting for further policy signals. As of 7:21 AM ET, the Dow is rising 0.2%, while the S&P 500 is up 0.3%. The Nasdaq 100 is increasing 0.5% relative to fair value on the GLOBEX.
U.S. equities were higher on Monday as the Federal Reserve Bank (Fed) of Chicago’s National Activity Index unexpectedly improved to 0.07 in September. Meanwhile, the Dallas Fed’s Texas Manufacturing Outlook Survey for October also surprised to the upside, rising to 13.4 in October. The Dow was up 0.3%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite rose 0.8%. The S&P 500 increased 0.7% with seven of 11 sectors finishing in positive territory. The Information Technology sector was the top performer, rising 1.5%, while the Communication Services sector was the bottom performer, falling 1.4%.
On the data front, the preliminary reading of September’s durable goods orders is forecasted to show an increase of 1.9% month-over-month (MOM), compared to the prior month’s decrease of 0.1%. The Federal Housing Finance Agency’s House Price Index is expected to show an increase of 0.2% MOM in August, compared to the prior month’s 0.3% increase. The S&P Cotality Case-Shiller 20-City Home Price Index for August is expected to register increases of 0.30% MOM and 2.61% year-over-year (YOY), versus the prior month’s increases of 0.32% and 2.47%, respectively. The Conference Board’s reading of October consumer confidence is projected to come in at 81.0 versus the prior month’s 81.9. The Richmond Fed’s October Fifth District Survey of Manufacturing Activity will be released today, with the headline composite manufacturing index expected to improve to 0 from the prior month’s -2. The Richmond Fed’s October Fifth District Survey of Non-Manufacturing Activity will also be released today, with the headline composite services index expected to remain unchanged at -8. Meanwhile, new home sales are projected to have been at an annualized 651,000 pace in September versus the prior month’s 684,000 pace. The Dallas Fed will release their Texas Service Sector Outlook Survey for October, with the general business activity index forecasted to come in at -2.9, down from the prior month’s -1.8. The finalized reading of September building permits is projected to come in roughly unchanged from the preliminary reading of an annualized 1.40 million.
Across the pond, European stocks are mostly higher in mid-day trading as France’s consumer confidence fell to 80 in October. Meanwhile, U.K. British Retail Consortium shop price inflation accelerated more than expected to 2.1% YOY.
Overnight in Asia, stocks were mixed as South Korea’s advanced reading of third-quarter gross domestic product grew more than expected, rising 1.0% quarter-over-quarter, while annual growth eased less than expected to 3.4% YOY. The country’s consumer confidence declined to 105.4 in October from 106.6 previously. Meanwhile, China’s industrial profits surged 14.4% YOY. Japan’s services Producer Price Index rose 3.7% YOY in September, in line with expectations.
In FOREX trading, the U.S. dollar is higher as investors await updates from tomorrow’s Fed meeting.
Over in the commodity pits, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil is 0.5% lower at $101.22/barrel and Brent crude oil is down 0.6% at $115.12/barrel on hopes of easing tensions in the Middle East.
In the metals complex, gold is 0.1% lower at $4,011.36/ounce following a strengthening U.S. dollar.