Dow Surges; Small Caps Score Standout Gain

The Dow surged on Tuesday, as upbeat earnings reports and easing oil prices helped Wall Street shake off lingering weakness in AI stocks. The blue-chip index jumped 529 points, helped by strong post-earnings gains from 3M (MMM) and RTX (RTX). The S&P 500 finished modestly higher as well, while the Russell 2000 scored its best single-day percentage gain since Aug. 4. The tech-heavy Nasdaq settled quietly lower. Investors now turn their attention to highly anticipated earnings reports from SpaceX (SPCX) and Netflix (NFLX), both due after the closing bell. 

• IBM struggling to recover from summer selloff ahead of earnings. 
• 3 stocks rising after upbeat Q3 reports. 
• Plus, two more stocks making post-earnings moves, and SPX trendlines to watch. 

5 Things to Know Today

1. Notable earnings reports to watch this week. 
2. Schaeffer's Velocity Trader: let us find your volatility opportunities.  
3. Cash flow concerns ding GE Aerospace stock despite strong results. 
4. Defense stock RTX lifts forecast on international demand. 
5. What last week's VIX spike could mean for stocks. 

Oil Finishes Lower After Earlier Spike

Oil prices fell as investors monitored U.S.-Iran tensions, pulling back from their dramatic surge earlier in the session. Expiring today, November-dated West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures dropped 1.8% to close at $101.79 per barrel. WTI crude for December delivery was down 0.7% at $97.82 per barrel.

Gold prices inched lower once again. Per CNBC, gold prices are down roughly 22% since the start of the Iran war. December-dated gold futures fell 0.4% to $4,142.60 per ounce.