Stocks are set to open higher, with S&P 500 futures up 0.41% to 7,691.25 as traders try to recover from last week's losses, according to CNBC. Nasdaq 100 futures gained 0.67% and Russell 2000 futures added 0.29%, while the VIX eased 2.06% to 19.05, signaling calmer expected volatility. WTI crude fell 2.12% to $101.08 a barrel, gold rose 0.56% to $4,030.30 an ounce, and bitcoin edged up 0.39% to $80,350.
| Market | Level | Change |
|---|---|---|
| S&P 500 futures | 7,691.25 | +0.41% |
| Nasdaq 100 futures | 29,312.75 | +0.67% |
| Russell 2000 futures | 2,792.60 | +0.29% |
| VIX (volatility index) | 19.05 | -2.06% |
| WTI crude oil, per barrel | $101.08 | -2.12% |
| Gold, per ounce | $4,030.30 | +0.56% |
| Bitcoin | $80,350 | +0.39% |
Source: Index futures, volatility and commodity quotes · as of October 26, 2026 at 8:31 AM ET · Change is from the prior session.
The biggest S&P 500 moves
Among the biggest gainers before the open, Coherent, Ross Stores, Lumentum, Nucor and Teradyne each advanced more than 2.7%, though no source in our facts explains those moves. On the downside, Fair Isaac fell the most, down 9.60%, followed by EQT, down 8.66% after Bloomberg reported the company agreed to acquire Range Resources in an all-stock deal that would combine the two into the largest natural gas producer in the country. Moderna dropped 8.29%; CNBC noted an analyst from William Blair weighed in after the stock's slide following a leak of cancer vaccine data, even as STAT reported that Moderna's CEO had expressed enthusiasm about the company's cancer vaccine research progress. Equifax and Eversource Energy also declined, down 3.49% and 2.67% respectively, with no reason given in our facts.
Source: Pre-market trades against the prior close, S&P 500 members · as of October 26, 2026 at 8:32 AM ET
| Stock | Company | Pre-market price | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| COHR | Coherent, Inc. | $216.52 | +3.45% |
| ROST | Ross Stores | $236.93 | +3.33% |
| LITE | Lumentum Holdings Inc. | $780.30 | +3.19% |
| NUE | Nucor | $265.37 | +2.81% |
| TER | Teradyne | $317.33 | +2.75% |
Source: Pre-market trades against the prior close, S&P 500 members · as of October 26, 2026 at 8:32 AM ET
| Stock | Company | Pre-market price | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| FICO | Fair Isaac | $737.00 | -9.60% |
| EQT | EQT Corporation | $50.81 | -8.66% |
| MRNA | Moderna | $183.51 | -8.29% |
| EFX | Equifax | $176.00 | -3.49% |
| ES | Eversource Energy | $65.66 | -2.67% |
Source: Pre-market trades against the prior close, S&P 500 members · as of October 26, 2026 at 8:32 AM ET
On the calendar today
The Chicago Fed National Activity Index for September was released at 8:30 AM ET, though its result was not yet published as of this writing. Still ahead, the Dallas Fed Manufacturing Index for October is due at 10:30 AM ET, with economists expecting a reading of 7, down from September's 9.8.
On the earnings front, Verizon has already reported, posting earnings per share of $1.31, ahead of the $1.27 estimate. Nine other S&P 500 companies are still due to report today, including Cadence Design Systems, Hartford, Nucor, Public Storage and Welltower, among others. MarketWatch reported that this is one of the busiest stretches of third-quarter earnings season, with roughly a third of S&P 500 companies set to report this week, as investors watch corporate results for signs of resilience amid cautious market sentiment.
| Time (ET) | Release | Actual | Consensus | Prior |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8:30 AM ET | Chicago Fed National Activity Index (Sep) | — | -0.1 | -0.04 |
| 10:30 AM ET | Dallas Fed Manufacturing Index (Oct) | — | 7 | 9.8 |
Source: Economic calendar
| Stock | Company | EPS estimate | EPS reported |
|---|---|---|---|
| ARE | Alexandria Real Estate Equities | $-0.03 | Not yet |
| BRO | Brown & Brown | $1.09 | Not yet |
| CDNS | Cadence Design Systems | $2.05 | Not yet |
| CINF | Cincinnati Financial | $2.05 | Not yet |
| HIG | Hartford (The) | $3.17 | Not yet |
| NUE | Nucor | $5.84 | Not yet |
| PFG | Principal Financial Group | $2.43 | Not yet |
| PSA | Public Storage | $2.49 | Not yet |
| VZ | Verizon | $1.27 | $1.31 |
| WELL | Welltower | $0.64 | Not yet |
Source: Company earnings calendar · "Not yet" means the company had not reported when this was written.
The latest graded results
In the latest graded recap, names screened before the open on Thursday, October 22, 2026 moved further by the close: Lockheed Martin gained nearly 2% from the open to the close after rising almost 4% before the open, Dow Inc. added about 2.6% over the session following a premarket gain of roughly 4.4%, and Procter & Gamble rose close to 2.4% from open to close after an early move of about 2.8%.