Stock Markets March 17, 2026

U.S. Equities Close Higher; Dow Edges Up as Energy, Consumer and Financial Names Advance

S&P 500 and Nasdaq post larger gains while volatility eases; mixed performances across large caps and small-cap tech names

By Sofia Navarro IBM DIS AMZN JNJ CRM
U.S. Equities Close Higher; Dow Edges Up as Energy, Consumer and Financial Names Advance
IBM DIS AMZN JNJ CRM

U.S. stock benchmarks finished higher on Tuesday, led by gains in the Oil & Gas, Consumer Services and Financials sectors. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.10%, the S&P 500 climbed 0.25% and the NASDAQ Composite advanced 0.47%. Market breadth was positive on both major exchanges and the CBOE Volatility Index slipped to 22.37.

Key Points

  • Major U.S. indexes closed higher: Dow +0.10%, S&P 500 +0.25%, Nasdaq +0.47% - sectors such as Oil & Gas, Consumer Services and Financials led gains.
  • Market breadth was positive on both exchanges with 1,769 advancers to 968 decliners on the NYSE and 1,784 advancers to 1,563 decliners on the Nasdaq.
  • Notable single-stock moves included Western Digital reaching an all-time high (+9.65%) and several small-cap names plunging to all-time lows, while VIX fell to 22.37.

U.S. equity markets ended Tuesday in positive territory as sector strength in Oil & Gas, Consumer Services and Financials helped push major indexes higher.

At the New York Stock Exchange close, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 0.10%. The S&P 500 increased 0.25%, while the NASDAQ Composite rose 0.47%.


Blue-chip movers

Within the Dow, International Business Machines (NYSE:IBM) was the session's top gainer, adding 2.75% - a 6.86-point rise to finish at 256.11. The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) climbed 1.66% or 1.64 points to close at 100.30, and Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ:AMZN) gained 1.63% or 3.46 points to end the day at 215.20.

On the downside among blue chips, Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) led decliners, slipping 2.09% or 5.08 points to finish at 238.11. Salesforce Inc (NYSE:CRM) fell 1.53% or 3.04 points to close at 195.30, and Amgen Inc (NASDAQ:AMGN) lost 1.39% or 5.09 points to end the session at 361.16.


S&P 500 leaders and laggards

The S&P 500's biggest winners included Western Digital Corporation (NASDAQ:WDC), which jumped 9.65% to 313.82. Celanese Corporation (NYSE:CE) rose 7.28% to settle at 60.15, and Delta Air Lines Inc (NYSE:DAL) added 6.53% to close at 64.82.

On the other side, Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) fell 5.94% to 930.35, Corpay Inc (NYSE:CPAY) lost 3.96% to settle at 297.94, and Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC) declined 3.76% to end at 44.04.


Notable moves on the NASDAQ Composite

Smaller-cap and biotech names produced extreme moves. Lunai Bioworks Inc (NASDAQ:LNAI) surged 162.77% to 0.56. U Power Ltd (NASDAQ:UCAR) rose 62.73% to settle at 0.72, and bioAffinity Technologies Inc (NASDAQ:BIAF) gained 43.46% to close at 2.74.

Conversely, several names posted steep losses: Meiwu Technology Co Ltd (NASDAQ:WNW) plunged 79.97% to 0.43, Aldeyra The (NASDAQ:ALDX) dropped 70.92% to 1.23, and Creative Media & Community Trust Corporation (NASDAQ:CMCT) fell 69.61% to 0.16.


Market breadth and record moves

On the NYSE, advancing issues outnumbered decliners by 1,769 to 968, with 83 issues unchanged. On the Nasdaq, 1,784 stocks rose, 1,563 fell and 208 finished flat.

Shares of Western Digital Corporation (NASDAQ:WDC) moved to all-time highs, up 9.65% or 27.61 to 313.82. Several companies recorded all-time lows during the session: Meiwu Technology Co Ltd (NASDAQ:WNW) fell 79.97% or 1.72 to 0.43; Aldeyra The (NASDAQ:ALDX) slipped 70.92% or 3.00 to 1.23; and Creative Media & Community Trust Corporation (NASDAQ:CMCT) declined 69.61% or 0.38 to 0.16.


Volatility, commodities and currencies

The CBOE Volatility Index, a measure of implied volatility on S&P 500 options, was down 4.85% at 22.37.

In commodities trading, April Gold Futures rose 0.14% or 6.84 to $5,009.04 a troy ounce. Crude oil for May delivery climbed 3.19% or 2.95 to $95.41 a barrel, while the May Brent contract increased 3.44% or 3.45 to trade at $103.66 a barrel.

Currency markets were relatively muted. EUR/USD was unchanged 0.27% to 1.15, and USD/JPY fell 0.01% to 159.05. The US Dollar Index Futures was down 0.13% at 99.34.


Takeaway

Treasury, commodity and currency moves accompanied a session of broad-based equity gains, with energy, consumer services and financials among the leading sectors. Market breadth favored advancers on both exchanges and the VIX eased modestly.

Risks

  • Individual stocks showed extreme volatility, with several small-cap names posting steep losses - this raises equity-specific risk in the technology and biotech segments.
  • Commodity price swings, notably crude oil and Brent rising more than 3%, could affect energy-related sectors and input costs for broader markets.
  • Elevated but falling implied volatility (VIX at 22.37) suggests market participants remain sensitive to shocks despite the intraday decline in fear.

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