As of 8:45 PM IST, Tuesday 27 October 2026. US figures are opening levels; European moves are intraday. European markets close at about 10 PM IST and US markets at 1:30 AM IST, so final numbers may differ.
Wall Street opened mixed on Tuesday, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq edging higher as oil prices eased, while investors positioned for a heavy week that includes the Federal Reserve's interest-rate decision and earnings from several of the largest US technology companies.
US open
At the opening bell (9:30 AM ET, 7:00 PM IST), according to Reuters:
- Dow Jones Industrial Average: down 84.1 points, or 0.16%, at 52,277.49.
- S&P 500: up 22.7 points, or 0.30%, at 7,699.47.
- Nasdaq Composite: up 116.9 points, or 0.45%, at 26,286.31.
Before the open, Reuters reported Coca-Cola up 0.1% after raising its annual profit forecast, PayPal up 1.4% after lifting its adjusted profit outlook, Royal Caribbean up 6% on a higher full-year forecast and Whirlpool down 5.9% after a third-quarter loss and a revenue miss. Meta was slightly lower after upsizing its equity raise to $97.5 billion. Alphabet, Microsoft and Amazon report later this week.
Europe: HSBC weighs on London
In Europe, the STOXX 600 was roughly flat during the session, with Germany's DAX up about 0.3% and France's CAC 40 up about 0.4%, while London's FTSE 100 was down nearly 1% as HSBC fell more than 6% after a revenue miss, according to an Investing.com report. Consumer goods group Reckitt also fell more than 6% after cutting its 2026 revenue growth outlook. Chip equipment maker Besi jumped about 9% after Applied Materials said it plans to raise its stake to about 20% from 9%.
Oil and gold
Brent crude was trading at around $116 a barrel. Sources differ on its direction during the day: Reuters said Brent slipped for a second straight session in volatile trading, though it remained near its highest level since late April, while CNBC said oil rose earlier on Tuesday as renewed Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia highlighted supply risks.
Gold hovered around the $4,000 mark. CNBC reported spot gold down 0.5% at $3,995.89 an ounce and US December gold futures down 0.71% at $4,009.60, as the dollar rose 0.3% to a near two-week high. "A hawkish message or stronger-than-expected PCE inflation could push gold below $4,000, potentially towards $3,900," said Ricardo Evangelista of ActivTrades. Gold prices moved on either side of $4,000 during the day, so later quotes may differ.
Fed week: hold expected, December in focus
The Fed is widely expected to keep rates at 3.75% to 4.00% on Wednesday after raising them last month. Its statement is due at 2 PM ET on Wednesday, which is 11:30 PM IST. CNBC, citing CME's FedWatch tool, said traders see an 80% chance of a hike in December, and Reuters said markets are pricing at least two more hikes by mid-2027 as inflation remains elevated amid the US-Iran conflict.
Other events this week include the UK budget on Wednesday, a Bank of Japan meeting after the Fed, an expected hold by the European Central Bank on Thursday with its deposit rate at 2.50%, and US PCE inflation data, the Fed's preferred gauge, on Thursday. The US midterm elections follow on 3 November.
What it means for investors
Higher oil keeps inflation risks alive, which is why markets expect the Fed to keep the door open to more hikes. For globally diversified investors, the week's main swing factors are the Fed's tone, big-tech earnings and any change in Middle East supply risks.
Related reading on HorizonDesk
- Wall Street on 26 October: Anthropic chip rally and Fed week
- The Fed is raising rates again: what it means for your money
- Gold above $4,000: why the metal is wobbling
- US Treasury yields above 5% and what it means for mortgages
Sources
- Investing.com (Reuters): S&P 500, Nasdaq open higher as oil pulls back ahead of Fed decision
- Investing.com (Reuters): Wall St on pace for higher open as oil pulls back
- Investing.com (Reuters): European shares fall as HSBC slump and energy fears offset AI glow
- CNBC: Gold retreats on stronger dollar; traders brace for Fed
Disclaimer: This article is for information only and is not investment advice or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold any security. HorizonDesk is not registered with SEBI as an investment adviser or research analyst. Please consult a SEBI-registered professional before making investment decisions.
