- Home
- Investing
- Stocks
The S&P 500 is within 50 points of crossing 7,000 for the first time, and Papa Dow is lurking just below its own new all-time high.
By
David Dittman
published
26 January 2026
in News
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.
Share Share by:- Copy link
- X
Stocks opened up and stayed in the green throughout a relatively quiet trading session. Major names in multiple sectors are set to report results, and markets are eager to hear what Fed Chair Jerome Powell has to say at the conclusion of this week's Federal Open Market Committee meeting.
It's a mostly Magnificent 7 week on the earnings calendar, with Meta Platforms (META), Microsoft (MSFT) and Tesla (TSLA) scheduled to report on Wednesday and Apple (AAPL) up on Thursday. Alphabet (GOOGL) will report on February 4, Amazon.com (AMZN) on February 5.
Nvidia (NVDA) won't report fiscal 2026 fourth-quarter results until February 25. But the leader of the AI boom still figured prominently in today's price action, most directly on the share price of one of the hottest initial public offerings (IPOs) of 2025.
From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance
Become a smarter, better informed investor. Subscribe from just $107.88 $24.99, plus get up to 4 Special Issues
CLICK FOR FREE ISSUE
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
Sign upMeanwhile, there's another force lurking on this week's economic calendar. "Following a tumultuous week for financial markets," Deutsche Bank Senior U.S. Economist Brett Ryan writes, "investors will focus intently on Wednesday's FOMC meeting."
As Ryan notes, things beyond interest rates and GDP growth have the market's attention: "Given recent events, Powell's presser is likely to focus on some non-economic issues – e.g., the recent DoJ subpoena, Governor Cook's case, who will be the next Fed chair, and whether Powell might remain on the Board."
In addition to a steady target range for the federal funds rate at 3.50% to 3.75%, the economist expects Fed Chair Jerome Powell to say policy is "well positioned” as it has entered a plausible range of neutral. He might also sound somewhat more sanguine on the labor market, while still emphasizing downside risks."
Track all markets on TradingViewWe're following news and developments around the FOMC meeting, which begins on Tuesday and ends on Wednesday, on our live Fed blog. According to CME FedWatch, investors, traders and speculators are 97.2% certain the Fed won't make a move this week.
At the closing bell on Monday, the Nasdaq Composite was up 0.4% to 23,601 on great tech expectations, the S&P 500 had added 0.5% to 6,950, rising to within 50 points of 7,000, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average was higher by 0.6% to 49,412, 222 points from a new all-time high.
CRWV stock gets even hotter
CoreWeave (CRWV, +5.7%), which completed its IPO last March, was up as much as 17.2% on Monday after management of the artificial-intelligence cloud company and CEO Jensen Huang's outfit announced an expanded partnership that includes a $2 billion investment from Nvidia.
Nvidia bought approximately 23 million shares of CRWV stock at $87.20 per share. "The investment reflects Nvidia's confidence in CoreWeave's business, team and growth strategy as a cloud platform built on Nvidia infrastructure," Nvidia and CoreWeave said in a joint statement.
Track all markets on TradingViewManagement notes the deal will help CoreWeave accelerate its project to build "AI factories" with total capacity of more than five gigawatts by 2030. CRWV was up more than 79% in 2025 and has extended its post-IPO run by another 37% so far in 2026.
Check your energy levels
Chevron (CVX), which will report fourth-quarter earnings on Friday, was among 18 of 30 Dow Jones stocks in the green on Monday, with tech stocks Apple and Cisco Systems (CSCO) leading the price-weighted index and Microsoft also posting a solid one-day return.
Indeed, energy stocks rallied for another positive close after rising 3.1% last week and generating the best performance among the 11 S&P 500 sectors, LPL Financial Chief Technical Strategist Adam Turnquist writes, as Haliburton (HAL), Kinder Morgan (KMI) and SLB (SLB) reported solid earnings.
Track all markets on TradingViewLooking for more timely stock market news to help gauge the health of your portfolio? Sign up for Closing Bell, our free newsletter that's delivered straight to your inbox at the close of each trading day.
As Turnquist notes, "Underlying commodity strength provided an additional tailwind." Natural gas futures surged 70% amid rising heating demand ahead of a massive winter storm in the U.S. Cold weather also put a freeze on crude oil production in the Bakken and Permian basins.
"Geopolitical developments added to the bullish tone for energy," the analyst explains, citing fading hopes for a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine as well as the Trump administration's mobilization of military assets in response to internal unrest in Iran.
Related content
- What Will the Fed Do at Its Next Meeting?
- Down But Not Out: 4 Reasons Why the Dollar Remains the World Heavyweight
- 5 Best Commodity ETFs to Buy Now
David DittmanInvesting EditorDavid Dittman is the former managing editor and chief investment strategist of Utility Forecaster, which was named one of "10 investment newsletters to read besides Buffett's" in 2015. A graduate of the University of California, San Diego, and the Villanova University School of Law, and a former stockbroker, David has been working in financial media for more than 20 years.
Latest-
S&P 500 Tops 7,000, Fed Pauses Rate Cuts: Stock Market Today
Investors, traders and speculators will probably have to wait until after Jerome Powell steps down for the next Fed rate cut.
-
The Met Opera May Sell Its Iconic Paintings. Is it a Good Investment?
Buying the Marc Chagall murals would come with a big stipulation attached.
-
Do You Really Need All Those Phone Plan Perks?
Unlimited data plans now come bundled with streaming, travel perks and device deals — but many people pay for extras they rarely use.
-
S&P 500 Tops 7,000, Fed Pauses Rate Cuts: Stock Market Today
Investors, traders and speculators will probably have to wait until after Jerome Powell steps down for the next Fed rate cut.
-
Today's Senior Living Communities Are Not Your Grandma's 'Old Folks' Home': An Expert Guide to Shopping for the Right Fit
Senior living facilities have improved and are as diverse as the people who inhabit them. Now, they're more than just a place to go — they're a place to grow.
-
3 Common Misconceptions About Working With a Financial Planner
Think financial planners are only for the wealthy and that AI can replace human advice? Nope. Even people with moderate wealth need professional advice.
-
Should You Consider Investing in the Quantum Computing Sector? This Investment Adviser Has Some Suggestions
Investors interested in quantum computing could consider ETFs focused on cloud services enabling small businesses to use big technology.
-
S&P 500 Hits New High Before Big Tech Earnings, Fed: Stock Market Today
The tech-heavy Nasdaq also shone in Tuesday's session, while UnitedHealth dragged on the blue-chip Dow Jones Industrial Average.
-
Yes, Artificial Intelligence Stocks Are Booming
It's fair to ask about the latest tech boom, "Is it really different this time?"
-
I'm an Estate Planning Attorney: These Are the Estate Plan Details You Need to Discuss (And What to Keep Private)
Gen Xers and Millennials would like to know if they're going to inherit (and how much), but Baby Boomers in general don't like to talk about money. What to do?
-
I'm a Financial Adviser: This Is How You Can Minimize the Damage of Bad Market Timing at Retirement
Poor investment returns early in retirement on top of withdrawals can quickly drain your savings. The ideal plan helps prevent having to sell assets at a loss.
