Stocks end a record week higher; chips sit out the bounce, telecoms sink
After the close, Friday October 9: what moved, why, and what to watch next.
Dusk Ledger · Friday, October 9, 2026 · 5:00 PM ET
The close
| Index | Close | Day | Week |
|---|---|---|---|
| S&P 500 | 7,811.54 | +0.6% | +1.2% |
| Dow Jones Industrial Average | 51,654.95 | +0.8% | +0.9% |
| Nasdaq Composite | 27,366.17 | +0.6% | +0.6% |
| Russell 2000 | 2,806.98 | +0.5% | -0.9% |
Index levels are the AP's final figures; the percentage moves match Reuters' intraday reports. The S&P 500 gained for the first time since setting its record close on Tuesday and finished close to it, after two days of losses. All three major indexes finished the week higher.
What moved, and why
Oil swung, stocks rose. Trump said the US would not attack Iran before the midterms, and oil fell early. It later recovered. The AP reported Brent ranged between $102.50 and $105 and settled at $104.72, up 0.4%; that settlement figure is reported by the AP, not independently confirmed here. Earlier reports from The National and the Economic Times had Brent near $103. Our oil story covers Thursday's jump.
Rates. The 10-year Treasury yield ended near 5.24%, up from 5.22% on Thursday, after swinging during the day. It touched its highest level since 2002 earlier this week. Read our yields story.
Telecoms. The AP reported T-Mobile US fell 13.3%, AT&T 9.8% and Verizon 8.7% after SpaceX said it would buy a nationwide block of spectrum; CNBC said Verizon was heading for its worst day since 2002. Tower owners rose: Crown Castle 15.6% and American Tower 9.3%, per the AP. SpaceX gained 1.2%. Read our story.
Chips sat out the rebound. Barron's reported the PHLX Semiconductor Index was down 0.4% even as the Nasdaq rose, and Nvidia closed down about 0.5% at $229.28 by one quote page. Reuters had said chip stocks were broadly higher in the morning, so the rebound faded. Read our story on the OpenAI report. The Barron's semiconductor figure is a single-source report.
Other movers. Humana rose 11.6% after the insurer reported encouraging Medicare Advantage rating data. Delta Air Lines finished roughly flat after reporting summer results slightly below forecasts and citing a $6 billion rise in fuel costs, per the AP. Consumer sentiment fell to 46.3, with inflation expectations up: read our story.
What to watch next
- The bull market's fourth birthday. Monday, October 12 marks four years since the S&P 500's closing low. Our story.
- Bank earnings. Citigroup, JPMorgan Chase and Wells Fargo report Tuesday, October 13, per the AP.
- Inflation data. September CPI is due Wednesday, October 14 at 8:30 AM ET, per the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Iran and oil. Talks and the Gulf hurricane disruptions keep oil moving.