Opening Comment — Tuesday, October 06, 2026
DJIA: 51,267.90, up 90.94
S&P 500: 7,773.95, up 51.23
NASDAQ: 27,477.31, up 286.45
Stocks higher ahead of trade data
Stock futures are higher Tuesday morning ahead of today’s August trade data, along with a fresh slate of comments from Federal Reserve (Fed) officials. As of 7:14 AM ET, the Dow is rising 0.5%, while the S&P 500 is up 0.4%. The Nasdaq 100 is increasing 0.5% relative to fair value on the GLOBEX.
U.S. equities were higher on Monday as the Institute for Supply Management's services purchasing managers’ index (PMI) for September dropped more than projected, falling to 54.9, with the prices paid component rising more than expected to 74.0. The Dow was up 0.2%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite rose 1.1% and hit a new record closing level of 27,477.31. The S&P 500 increased 0.7% with 10 of 11 sectors finishing in positive territory. The Materials sector was the top performer, rising 1.2%, while the Real Estate sector was the bottom performer, falling 0.4%.
On the data front, the U.S. trade deficit is expected to expand in August to $102.1 billion from the prior month’s $88.6 billion, with exports and imports projected to show increases of 1.2% and 4.2% month-over-month (MOM), respectively, versus the prior month’s decrease of 2.1% and increase of 2.8% MOM, respectively.
Across the pond, European stocks are higher in mid-day trading as Germany’s August factory orders showed a greater-than-expected decline of 10.6% MOM. Meanwhile, France’s August industrial production unexpectedly declined 0.3% MOM. The country’s year-to-date budget deficit widened to €159.6 ($179.5) billion in August. Additionally, the S&P Global U.K. Construction PMI increased to 46.1 in September, exceeding expectations, while Germany’s Construction PMI fell to 43.5. The eurozone’s retail sales registered a smaller-than-expected increase of 0.1% MOM in August.
Overnight in Asia, stocks were mostly higher as Westpac’s Consumer Confidence Index for Australia declined by 4.7% MOM in October. South Korea’s foreign exchange reserves declined to $440.6 billion in September.
In FOREX trading, the U.S. dollar is slightly lower ahead of today’s Fed commentary.
Over in the commodity pits, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) and Brent crude oil are both 2.2% lower at $87.43/barrel and $98.12/barrel, respectively.
In the metals complex, gold is 0.5% higher at $4,158.78/ounce following a weakening U.S. dollar.