2nd October 2026 – (New York) US stocks posted cautious gains on the first trading day of October after retreating from early losses as government bond yields eased from peaks not seen in more than two decades. The S&P 500 added 0.19 per cent to 7,666.45, the Nasdaq Composite edged up 0.04 per cent to 26,871.60, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 20.51 points, or 0.04 per cent, to 50,926.56. The 10‑year Treasury yield touched an intraday high of 5.344 per cent before reversing, while the 30‑year also slipped from its strongest levels in around 24 years. The shorter end led the move, with the 2‑year yield falling around 10 basis points, helping equities stabilise after recent sessions in which shares have moved inversely to rates.
Energy prices limited enthusiasm. West Texas Intermediate settled 2.7 per cent higher at $92.87 a barrel and Brent crude was last up about 4.6 per cent near $102.55, as traders weighed geopolitical risks and potential policy responses. In corporate news, Micron rallied after reporting quarterly revenue that surged year on year, though management signalled that planned increases in employee compensation could temper margins relative to market expectations. Elsewhere, small‑cap shares outperformed, with the Russell 2000 advancing about 0.8 per cent, and some market commentators suggested softer recent inflation readings and calmer central‑bank rhetoric were encouraging investors to price a pause in U.S. rate hikes this month ahead of the latest labour‑market data.
