The U.S. stock market reached new heights on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, as investor confidence grew around rising corporate profits. The S&P 500 index climbed 0.6%, surpassing its previous record set in August, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.5%. The Nasdaq composite also extended its gains, rising 0.4% after hitting an all-time high the day before. Key contributors to the rally included Constellation Energy, which announced a major deal to supply electricity to Google, and Lamb Weston, which reported stronger-than-expected earnings.
Stocks received additional support from a slight easing in bond market yields. The S&P 500 closed at 7,818.93, up 44.98 points, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average settled at 51,521.28, gaining 253.38 points. The Nasdaq composite finished at 27,599.79, adding 122.48 points. However, smaller companies underperformed, with the Russell 2000 index dropping 0.6%.
For the week, the S&P 500 and Nasdaq continued their upward trajectory, rising 1.2% and 1.5%, respectively, while the Dow gained 0.7%. The Russell 2000 saw a modest decline of 0.1%. Year-to-date, the Nasdaq leads with an 18.7% increase, followed by the S&P 500 at 14.2% and the Dow at 7.2%. The Russell 2000 has also climbed 14% over the year.