Markets delivered a mixed session to open the week, with the major indices pulling in different directions on Monday, October 12, 2026. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was the clear standout, adding 0.35% to close at 51,464.72, buoyed by strength in value-oriented and blue-chip names. Meanwhile, the broader S&P 500 barely budged, slipping just 0.06% to settle at 7,788.78 — essentially flat on the day.
The Nasdaq bore the brunt of the session's weakness, falling 0.70% to close at 27,081.25, as a pullback in semiconductor and high-growth tech names pressured the index. The Russell 2000 also declined, dropping 0.37% to 2,767.88, suggesting small-cap investors remained cautious about the near-term economic backdrop.
Meta Platforms was the session's brightest spot among large caps, climbing 3.38% to $742.96 and providing a meaningful lift to the social media and ad-tech space. Nvidia, by contrast, was the notable drag, shedding 1.29% to $226.32 in a session that saw the AI darling give back some of its recent gains. Gold continued to gleam as a haven asset, with prices at $4,173.08, reflecting persistent macro uncertainty underneath the surface calm.