What Happened Today, Tuesday October 13, 2026, 5:00 PM ET close
Stocks Ease as Investors Wait for Wednesday's CPI and Banks Kick Off Earnings
A cautious day before the inflation report, with bank and health care earnings in focus.
ES and NQ at the close
NQ, Nasdaq 100 futures
30,791.50
-0.35% on the day
Day range 30,591.25 to 30,906.00
ES, S&P 500 futures
7,855.75
-0.03% on the day
Day range 7,834.50 to 7,864.00
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The story
Stocks drifted lower on Tuesday as investors waited for the September inflation report. The Dow fell 0.35% to 51,670, the S&P 500 slipped 0.02% to 7,805 and the Nasdaq eased 0.15% to 27,204. Earnings season began with mixed bank results, and the 10 year Treasury yield edged down to about 5.22%. US crude futures rose 0.43% to $94.14 as a US blockade kept Iranian crude exports at zero.
The MAG7 and the megacaps
Big tech was quiet ahead of the inflation data. The Nasdaq slipped 0.15% as chip stocks stayed under pressure from Monday's China memory news. Investors were waiting for both CPI and next week's tech earnings before making big moves.
After the bell
UnitedHealth beats
UnitedHealth earned $4.69 a share, well above the $4.06 expected, and raised its full year outlook to at least $20.50 a share on lower medical costs.
Banks are mixed
JPMorgan's revenue of $50.2 billion missed estimates on weak bond trading, while Goldman Sachs beat on strong stock trading.
Home sales pick up
September existing home sales rose 1.5% to 3.99 million, a bit better than expected, with a median price of $417,500.
Inflation report next
Economists expect September CPI to show prices up 0.6% for the month, led by energy costs.
Crypto
Bitcoin fell 1.84% to about $81,562, trading between roughly $81,346 and $84,049. Crypto does not always move with stocks, so it is worth tracking on its own.
Into the night
South Korea's Kospi fell 6.25% on worries that China's CXMT will compete with Korean memory makers. New York Fed President John Williams said one more rate hike this year looks appropriate. Hedge fund manager Paul Tudor Jones said oil could keep rising while the US and Iran conflict is unresolved.
What is coming next
September CPI
Wed 8:30 AM ET
The week's biggest number for interest rate expectations.
10 year yield
5.22%
Tuesday's level, which moves mortgage and loan rates.
Bank earnings
This week
Bank of America, Morgan Stanley and others report next.
Wednesday's inflation report is the key event. A hot reading could raise the odds of another Fed rate hike. The items above are things to watch, not predictions.
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Educational market recap, not financial advice. Futures and options trading carry substantial risk of loss. Prices reflect the 2026-10-13 session close; charts are live and interactive. Always verify before acting.