Markets closed modestly higher on Tuesday, March 17, 2026 — St. Patrick's Day — with all four major indices finishing in the green in a quiet but constructive session. The S&P 500 added 0.26% to close at 6,714.61, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average edged up 0.13% to 46,793.33. The Nasdaq Composite led the large-cap benchmarks with a gain of 0.49%, settling at 21,900.15.
Small caps showed relative strength as well, with the Russell 2000 rising 0.45% to close at 2,490.5, a sign that risk appetite remains intact beyond the mega-cap universe. The breadth of the rally, however modest, suggests the market is not entirely dependent on a handful of technology giants to stay afloat.
Gold continued its remarkable ascent, with the precious metal closing at $5,015.23 — a level that underscores persistent demand for hard assets amid ongoing macroeconomic uncertainty. Alphabet was the standout mover among large caps, gaining 1.75% to $310.92, while Meta Platforms was the session's notable laggard, shedding 0.76% to close at $622.66.
Overall, Tuesday's session felt more like a quiet consolidation than a conviction-driven move — markets digesting recent gains with measured optimism rather than exuberance.