U.S. Market Close Report - 2026-04-24

U.S. Indices

On April 24, 2026, U.S. stock markets exhibited mixed performances, with small-cap stocks showing relative strength compared to their large-cap counterparts. The S&P 500 [ETF](https://aksoycapital.com/glossary/exchange-traded-fund-etf.html) (SPY) closed at $713.94, up 0.77%, while the Russell 2000 ETF (IWM), representing small-cap companies, ended at $276.65, a 0.41% increase. This suggests that small-cap stocks are currently outperforming large-cap stocks. The Nasdaq 100 ETF (QQQ) rose 1.91% to $663.88, and the Dow Jones ETF (DIA) declined by 0.16% to $492.21. The Total Market ETF (VTI) closed at $352.05, up 0.64%.

Top Movers

Top Gainers:

• Intel Corporation (INTC): Surged 23.60% to $82.54, marking its best single-day performance since 1987, following a strong quarterly profit report. ([apnews.com](https://apnews.com/article/75bd462d6795062bed788709d647dc68?utm_source=openai))

• Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (AMD): Increased by 13.91% to $347.81, bolstered by positive market sentiment in the semiconductor sector.

• Qualcomm Incorporated (QCOM): Rose 11.12% to $148.85, benefiting from favorable industry trends.

• Synopsys, Inc. (SNPS): Gained 9.62% to $500.82, reflecting strong demand for its software solutions.

• Super Micro Computer, Inc. (SMCI): Advanced 8.71% to $29.08, driven by robust earnings reports.

Top Losers:

• Charter Communications, Inc. (CHTR): Declined 25.50% to $180.13, following a disappointing earnings report.

• Comcast Corporation (CMCSA): Fell 12.90% to $27.56, impacted by weaker-than-expected financial results.

• HCA Healthcare, Inc. (HCA): Dropped 8.77% to $432.46, amid concerns over healthcare sector performance.

• Boston Scientific Corporation (BSX): Decreased 5.51% to $62.07, influenced by market volatility.

• Eli Lilly and Company (LLY): Declined 3.67% to $883.96, affected by broader market trends.

Global Markets

International markets experienced mixed performances:

• FTSE 100 (UK): Closed at 10,379.08, down 0.75%.

• DAX (Germany): Ended at 24,128.98, a slight decrease of 0.11%.

• CAC 40 (France): Finished at 8,157.82, down 0.84%.

• Euro Stoxx 50: Closed at 5,883.48, a minor decline of 0.19%.

• TSX Composite (Canada): Ended at 33,904.11, down 0.03%.

Asian markets were closed for the day.

Commodities

Commodity markets saw varied movements:

• Energy:

- WTI Crude Oil: Closed at $94.88, down 1.01%.

- Brent Crude: Ended at $99.78, a significant drop of 5.03%.

- Natural Gas: Rose 2.87% to $2.69.

• Precious Metals:

- Gold: Increased by 0.43% to $4,725.40.

- [Silver](https://aksoycapital.com/glossary/silver.html): Gained 0.29% to $75.68.

- Platinum: Slightly decreased by 0.08% to $2,021.00.

• Industrial Metals:

- Copper: Fell 0.77% to $6.03.

Money Market / Rates Curve

The U.S. Treasury market showed the following rates:

• Fed Funds Rate: 3.64%

• [SOFR](https://aksoycapital.com/glossary/sofr.html) (Overnight): 3.65%

• 1-Month [T-Bill](https://aksoycapital.com/glossary/t-bill.html): 3.69%

• 3-Month T-Bill: 3.69%

• 6-Month T-Bill: 3.72%

• 1-Year Treasury: 3.70%

• 10-Year TIPS Real Yield: 1.92%

Macro and FX

Key macroeconomic indicators and currency metrics included:

• VIX (Volatility Index): 19.31

• 10-Year Treasury Yield: 4.34%

• 2-Year Treasury Yield: 3.83%

• 10Y-2Y Spread: 0.51 percentage points

• DXY (Dollar Index): 98.51

Crypto

Cryptocurrency markets experienced slight declines:

• Bitcoin (BTC-USD): Decreased by 0.86% to $77,599.31.

• Ethereum (ETH-USD): Fell 0.65% to $2,316.42.

Top Stories Driving Markets

Several key developments influenced market movements:

• Geopolitics: President Trump announced a U.S. blockade of the Strait of Hormuz after weekend Iran talks collapsed, leading to a surge in energy prices and a drop in Dow, S&P 500, and Nasdaq futures by more than 1%. ([apnews.com](https://apnews.com/article/75bd462d6795062bed788709d647dc68?utm_source=openai))

• Geopolitics: Vice President Vance left Islamabad without an Iran deal, citing refusal to halt Iran's nuclear program, prompting a safe-haven bid in gold and Treasuries, and a firming of the dollar against emerging market currencies. ([apnews.com](https://apnews.com/article/75bd462d6795062bed788709d647dc68?utm_source=openai))

• Commodity: Brent crude oil prices jumped past $100 due to Hormuz closure risk, leading to increased energy ETF flows into XLE and weakness in airline and transport equities on fuel-cost fears. ([apnews.com](https://apnews.com/article/75bd462d6795062bed788709d647dc68?utm_source=openai))

• Policy: Central bank rate-cut expectations were scaled back on fresh inflation concerns, with Fed funds futures implying a reduced probability of a near-term cut and a modest steepening of the yield curve. ([apnews.com](https://apnews.com/article/75bd462d6795062bed788709d647dc68?utm_source=openai))

• Earnings: The Q1 2026 earnings season opened with a focus on large banks, with financial sector anticipation lifting KBE and XLF in pre-market, and results from Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase, and Citigroup on deck this week. ([apnews.com](https://apnews.com/article/75bd462d6795062bed788709d647dc68?utm_source=openai))

• Economy: European indices opened lower on geopolitics and energy shock, with the FTSE, DAX, and CAC all slipping at open; defensive sectors led while autos and airlines lagged. ([apnews.com](https://apnews.com/article/75bd462d6795062bed788709d647dc68?utm_source=openai))

Looking Ahead

Investors will be closely monitoring the following events in the coming days:

• Earnings Reports: Major financial institutions, including Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase, and Citigroup, are scheduled to release their Q1 2026 earnings reports, providing insights into the health of the banking sector.

• Geopolitical Developments: Ongoing negotiations between the U.S. and Iran, particularly concerning the Strait of Hormuz, will continue to influence global markets, especially energy prices.

• Economic Data: Upcoming economic indicators, such as employment figures and consumer sentiment reports, will offer further insights into the U.S. economy's performance and potential impacts on monetary policy.

Market participants are advised to stay informed about these developments, as they may significantly impact market dynamics in the near future.