Stock Markets March 2, 2026

U.S. benchmarks split as energy and tech gains offset consumer and healthcare losses

Dow slips modestly while S&P 500 and Nasdaq tick higher amid broad sector divergence and commodity strength

By Hana Yamamoto NVDA HON CVX HD
U.S. benchmarks split as energy and tech gains offset consumer and healthcare losses
NVDA HON CVX HD

U.S. equity markets closed mixed on Monday as gains in Oil & Gas, Technology and Industrials were offset by declines in Consumer Goods, Healthcare and Consumer Services. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.15%, the S&P 500 inched up 0.04% and the Nasdaq Composite added 0.36%. Notable movers ranged from large-cap tech and energy names to highly volatile small-cap listings, while volatility and commodity prices rose.

Key Points

  • Markets closed mixed: Dow down 0.15%, S&P 500 up 0.04%, Nasdaq up 0.36% - sectors diverged with Oil & Gas, Technology and Industrials leading and Consumer Goods, Healthcare and Consumer Services lagging.
  • Notable single-stock moves included all-time highs for Northrop Grumman, Honeywell and Chevron, 52-week highs for Marathon Petroleum, and large percentage swings among small-cap Nasdaq listings.
  • Volatility and commodities rose: the VIX gained 8.01%, gold and crude oil prices increased, and the U.S. dollar strengthened against major currencies.

U.S. stocks finished mixed on Monday, with strength concentrated in Oil & Gas, Technology and Industrials, while the Consumer Goods, Healthcare and Consumer Services sectors weighed on the market. At the close on the New York Stock Exchange, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.15%, while the S&P 500 edged up 0.04% and the Nasdaq Composite gained 0.36%.

Several Dow components outperformed. NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA) led gains on the index, rising 2.93% to close at 182.48. Honeywell International Inc (NASDAQ:HON) added 1.81% to finish at 247.99, and Chevron Corp (NYSE:CVX) increased 1.47% to end the session at 189.51.

Conversely, some blue-chip names pulled the Dow lower. Home Depot Inc (NYSE:HD) fell 2.60% to 370.81, 3M Company (NYSE:MMM) declined 2.34% to 161.45, and Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG) slipped 2.21% to 163.51.


On the S&P 500, a handful of companies posted outsized gains. Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) rose 6.03% to 768.05, Marathon Petroleum Corp (NYSE:MPC) advanced 5.86% to 209.82, and Palantir Technologies Inc (NASDAQ:PLTR) climbed 5.80% to close at 145.15.

By contrast, several S&P names recorded steep declines. The AES Corporation (NYSE:AES) dropped 17.77% to 14.21, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd (NYSE:NCLH) fell 10.53% to 22.18, and Estee Lauder Companies Inc (NYSE:EL) was down 8.48% to 100.19 at the close.


The Nasdaq Composite saw extreme movers among smaller and newly listed names. Purple Biotech (NASDAQ:PPBT) surged 861.54% to 4.25, Zhongchao Inc (NASDAQ:ZCMD) jumped 754.84% to 1.86, and STAK Inc (NASDAQ:STAK) rose 149.41% to 1.06. On the downside, Aardvark Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:AARD) plunged 56.21% to 5.47, Li Bang International Corporation Inc (NASDAQ:LBGJ) fell 38.00% to 0.10, and Pulmatrix Inc (NASDAQ:PULM) declined 36.79% to 1.89.

Market breadth was positive on both major exchanges. On the New York Stock Exchange, 1,520 stocks advanced while 1,232 declined and 71 were unchanged. On the Nasdaq, 1,796 issues rose, 1,573 fell and 197 remained flat.

Certain names reached notable price milestones during the session. Northrop Grumman reached an all-time high, closing at 768.05 after a 6.03% gain. Marathon Petroleum hit a 52-week high, finishing at 209.82 after a 5.86% rise. Honeywell and Chevron both closed at all-time highs, at 247.99 and 189.51 respectively. On the downside, Aardvark Therapeutics and Li Bang International fell to all-time lows, while Pulmatrix fell to a 52-week low.


Volatility, commodities and currencies also moved noticeably. The CBOE Volatility Index, which tracks implied volatility on S&P 500 options, rose 8.01% to 21.45. In commodities trading, gold futures for April delivery increased 1.82% to 5,343.24 a troy ounce. Crude oil for April delivery climbed 6.64% to 71.47 a barrel, and the May Brent contract rose 7.47% to 78.31 a barrel.

Currency markets showed dollar strength and euro weakness. EUR/USD fell 1.02% to 1.17, while USD/JPY was up 0.85% at 157.38. The US Dollar Index Futures rose 0.95% to 98.49.


Investors faced a session of contrasting forces: large gains in specific sectors and securities alongside significant declines in others, with volatility and commodity prices adding an extra layer of market movement. These dynamics were reflected in both headline indices and extreme single-stock performances, particularly among smaller-cap and newly listed companies.

Risks

  • Elevated market volatility as indicated by an 8.01% rise in the CBOE Volatility Index, which may increase short-term price swings across sectors (affecting all equity sectors).
  • Sharp declines in specific stocks, including a 17.77% drop for The AES Corporation and a 56.21% fall for Aardvark Therapeutics, underline the risk of outsized losses in small-cap or company-specific situations (notably Consumer Services and Healthcare-related listings).
  • Significant moves in commodity markets, with crude oil up over 6% and Brent up 7.47%, introduce input-cost and margin considerations for energy-exposed and commodity-sensitive sectors.

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