Opening Comment — Monday, October 12, 2026
DJIA: 51,654.95, up 423.31
S&P 500: 7,811.54, up 46.18
NASDAQ: 27,366.17, up 172.83
Stocks flat to start off week
Stock futures are little changed Monday morning as investors are looking ahead to this week’s earnings releases and key inflation data, with the September Consumer Price Index (CPI) and Producer Price Index (PPI) scheduled for release on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively. Other economic data out this week includes September’s retail sales and industrial production on Thursday and Friday, respectively. As of 7:20 AM ET, the Dow and the S&P 500 Index are both rising 0.1%. The Nasdaq 100 is falling 0.1% relative to fair value on the GLOBEX.
U.S. equities were higher on Friday as U.S. consumer sentiment weakened more than expected in October, with the University of Michigan’s preliminary consumer sentiment index falling to 46.3. Meanwhile, the University’s measure of one-year inflation expectations rose less than anticipated to 4.7%, while five-to-ten-year inflation expectations rose to 3.5%, in line with expectations. The Dow was up 0.8%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite rose 0.6%. The S&P 500 increased 0.6% with nine of 11 sectors finishing in positive territory. The Real Estate sector was the top performer, rising 1.9%, while the Communication Services sector was the bottom performer, falling 0.4%.
Across the pond, European stocks are higher in mid-day trading as falling energy prices helped ease inflation concerns. Meanwhile, investors are looking ahead to this week’s key economic releases, including finalized September CPI readings for Germany, France, and the eurozone, alongside the U.K.’s August gross domestic product.
Overnight in Asia, stocks were mixed as South Korea’s exports surged 102.0% year-over-year (YOY) in the first 10 days of October, accelerating from an 82.6% increase previously, while imports jumped 65.5% YOY, up from 20.7%.
In FOREX trading, the U.S. dollar is higher ahead of this week’s U.S. inflation data.
Over in the commodity pits, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) and Brent crude oil are both 0.9% higher at $92.63/barrel and $105.62/barrel, respectively, as markets continue evaluating the changing situation in the Middle East and between Russia and Ukraine.
In the metals complex, gold is 0.4% lower at $4,177.36/ounce following a strengthening U.S. dollar.