US stocks mostly rose on Tuesday, October 20, thanks to strong company earnings and a pullback in oil prices. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, which tracks 30 large US companies, jumped 530 points, or 1%, to 52,495.88. The S&P 500, the broad measure of the 500 biggest US companies, gained 0.3% to 7,712.57. The tech-heavy Nasdaq was nearly flat, slipping less than 0.1% to 26,424.82, as Apple and Meta weighed on it after Monday’s tech rebound. Smaller companies did even better, with the Russell 2000 index climbing 1.7%. Earnings season, when companies report their quarterly profits, did most of the lifting. Credit bureau Equifax and toymaker Hasbro both jumped more than 10% after beating expectations, and investors moved money toward steadier sectors like healthcare. Oil also helped. Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, neared $112 a barrel in the morning, close to its highest level since the war with Iran began, but then fell below $109. That drop helped stocks erase their early losses. The next big tests are this week’s earnings from Tesla and Meta, followed by the Federal Reserve’s meeting on October 27–28.
Daily Digest ·
US stocks mostly rose on Tuesday, October 20, thanks to strong company…
What moved Wall Street and the PSEi, and what it means for your money, in plain language.
Today, in Two Lines
The day’s biggest story in each market.
US stocks mostly rose on Tuesday, October 20, thanks to strong company earnings and a pullback in oil prices.
The PSEi, the index of the 30 biggest companies on the Philippine Stock Exchange, edged up 0.14% to 5,806.17 on Tuesday.
US & PH Markets at Last Close
Where each market finished its most recent trading session before this issue went out.
US markets
| S&P 500 | 7,712.57 +0.28% |
| Dow Jones | 52,495.88 +1.02% |
| Nasdaq | 26,424.82 -0.02% |
| 10-Yr Treasury Yield | 5.12% |
Philippine markets
| PSEi | 5,806.17 +0.14% |
| USD/PHP | 63.03 +0.13% |
| BSP Rate | 5.00% |
Winners & Losers
The stocks that moved most, and why.
USUnited States
- EFX Equifax+10.4%
Third-quarter profit beat estimates, though it trimmed its full-year revenue outlook
- HAS Hasbro+10.3%
Beat third-quarter expectations and raised its full-year revenue outlook
- KVYO Klaviyo+10.5%
Among the day’s top gainers in a broad rally for earnings-driven stocks (intraday figure)
- GM General Motors-7.0%
Fell even though third-quarter results beat expectations (midday figure)
PHPhilippines
- SM SM Investments+2.4%
Led the index higher as beaten-down conglomerates rebounded
- AC Ayala Corporation+1.1%
Rose to ₱545 on the day its fintech affiliate GCash went public
- ICT International Container Terminal Services-1.2%
Slipped to ₱840 as services stocks lagged
- GCASH Mynt Inc. (GCash)0.0%
Closed flat at its ₱6.60 IPO price in a record-setting debut, and was the day’s most-traded stock
Today’s Full Story
USUnited States
PHPhilippines
The PSEi, the index of the 30 biggest companies on the Philippine Stock Exchange, edged up 0.14% to 5,806.17 on Tuesday. That was its fourth straight gain and its best close since September 25. It also broke above 5,800, a level traders call “resistance” because rallies have often stalled there. Gains in big conglomerates (companies that own many different businesses) led the way, with SM Investments up 2.4%. Mining and oil stocks fell 2.13%, and services dropped 1.31%. More stocks fell than rose (105 to 84), and analysts said many investors stayed on the sidelines ahead of Thursday’s BSP interest rate decision. The day’s headline was the stock market debut of GCash parent Mynt, under the ticker GCASH. It raised a record ₱60.9 billion, the largest IPO in Philippine history. The stock opened at its ₱6.60 offer price, briefly rose to ₱6.76, and closed flat at ₱6.60. More than 140,000 people bought about ₱1.1 billion worth of shares through the GCash app, many for the first time. Meanwhile, the peso held at its record-low close of ₱63.09 per dollar for a second straight day.
US–PHHow US news affects the Philippines
Tuesday showed how closely oil prices tie together US and Philippine markets. When Brent crude neared $112 on Middle East war fears, it threatened both US stocks and the peso. Then it fell below $109, and US stocks recovered. The Philippines imports nearly all its oil and pays in dollars, so every jump in oil prices raises demand for dollars and puts more pressure on the peso. That pressure, along with high US interest rates, kept the peso at a record low of ₱63.09. ANZ Research also warned that the BSP’s foreign reserves (the stockpile of dollars it can use to steady the peso) have fallen to their lowest since September 2023. That could limit how much the BSP can step in, and ANZ said the peso could weaken to ₱64. For Filipinos, this sets up a big week. A weaker peso makes imported fuel and goods pricier, but it also means OFW remittances convert into more pesos. The BSP decides on interest rates this Thursday, October 22. Raising rates could help defend the peso but would make loans more expensive. The Fed then meets October 27–28, and its decision will shape the dollar and, in turn, the peso. GCash’s flat debut showed strong interest from everyday Filipinos, but also that investors remain cautious.
Sa Taglish
Ipinakita ng Tuesday kung gaano kalapit ang koneksyon ng presyo ng langis sa US at Philippine markets. Nung umabot sa halos $112 ang Brent crude dahil sa takot sa giyera sa Middle East, nadiinan pareho ang US stocks at ang piso. Nung bumaba ito sa ilalim ng $109, nakabawi ang US stocks. Halos lahat ng langis natin imported at binabayaran in dollars, kaya bawat taas ng presyo ng langis, mas maraming dollar ang kailangan natin, at mas naiipit ang piso. Kasama pa ang mataas na interest rates sa US, kaya nanatili ang piso sa record low na ₱63.09. Nagbabala rin ang ANZ Research na bumaba na ang foreign reserves ng BSP (ang ipon nitong dollars na puwedeng gamitin para patatagin ang piso) sa pinakamababa mula September 2023. Ibig sabihin, baka limitado na ang kayang gawin ng BSP, at puwede raw umabot sa ₱64 ang palitan. Para sa mga Pinoy, malaking linggo ‘to. Pag mahina ang piso, mas mahal ang imported na gasolina at bilihin, pero mas maraming piso naman ang natatanggap mula sa padala ng OFW. Magdedesisyon ang BSP sa interest rates ngayong Thursday, October 22. Kung magtataas sila, matutulungan ang piso, pero mas mahal ang pag-utang. Tapos magmi-meeting ang Fed sa October 27–28, at ang desisyon nila ang huhubog sa galaw ng dollar, at ng piso natin. Yung flat na debut ng GCash, ipinakita na interesado talaga ang ordinaryong Pinoy, pero maingat pa rin ang mga investor.
USD/PHP
Biggest mover: Russell 2000 +1.65%
What to Watch
- The BSP announces its interest rate decision this Thursday, October 22, with the peso stuck at a record low and reserves shrinking.
- Watch how GCASH trades in its first full week, since a steady performance could draw more local and foreign investors into Philippine stocks.
- Oil prices near $110 and Tesla’s and Meta’s earnings this week will set the tone for both US stocks and the peso ahead of the Fed’s October 27–28 meeting.
Sources
The original reporting behind this issue.
US markets
- How major US stock indexes fared Tuesday 10/20/2026
US stocks mostly rose after strong earnings from companies like Equifax and Hasbro, while oil prices pulled back from near their wartime highs.
- Dow jumps 500 points as earnings optimism steadies market: Live updates
The Dow climbed on upbeat earnings and lower oil prices, outweighing recent pressure on AI-related stocks.
- Dow leads Wall Street higher, investors focus on healthcare stocks
The Dow led gains as investors favored value sectors like healthcare while tech lagged after Monday’s bounce.
- Amgen, Equifax among market cap stock movers on Tuesday
A list of Tuesday’s notable movers, led by earnings-driven gains in Equifax and Hasbro.
- Stocks making the biggest moves midday: Hasbro, Northrop Grumman, Equifax, General Motors & more
Midday movers included Hasbro and Equifax on strong results, while GM fell despite beating estimates.
- Hasbro Posts Upbeat Q3 Earnings, Joins Myriad Genetics, Equifax And Other Big Stocks Moving Higher On Tuesday
Hasbro rose sharply after beating estimates and raising its outlook, alongside gains in Klaviyo and Equifax.
PH markets
- PSEi clears 5,800 as bargain hunting lifts stocks
Bargain hunting pushed the PSEi above 5,800, while GCash’s parent ended its first trading day flat.
- PSEi rises to 5,800 as Mynt makes market debut
Philippine shares closed at their best level in over three weeks, helped by bargain hunting and Mynt’s listing.
- Historic Mynt market debut lifts PSEi above 5,800
The PSEi rose for a fourth straight day, with Mynt the most-traded stock and conglomerates leading the gains.
- GCash operator shares flat after debut at local bourse
Mynt’s shares closed unchanged at their offer price after briefly trading higher on their first day.
- Peso closes at record-low P63.09 for second straight day
The peso held at its record-low close, unchanged from Monday.
Cross US–PH
- Peso closes flat at P63.09; Gcash IPO drives PSEi higher
The peso stayed at a record low on dollar strength, and ANZ warned that falling reserves could limit how much the BSP can defend it.
- How major US stock indexes fared Tuesday 10/20/2026
Brent crude neared $112 before dropping below $109, helping US stocks recover from early losses.
- GCash goes public with record P60.9-B IPO
GCash’s parent debuted on the PSE with a market value of about ₱441.5 billion, drawing many first-time retail investors.
- PSEi clears 5,800 as bargain hunting lifts stocks
Brokers said investors held back from big bets ahead of Thursday’s BSP rate decision.
Terms to know
- Stock
- A tiny piece of ownership in a company. Buying a company's stock means you own a small part of that business.
- Stock market
- The overall marketplace where stocks are bought and sold. When we say 'the market' or show numbers like the S&P 500 or PSEi, we mean a snapshot of how stocks overall are doing that day.
- Interest rate
- The cost of borrowing money, or what you earn for saving it. When rates go up, loans get pricier, but savings can earn a bit more.
- Inflation (CPI)
- When everyday prices rise over time, so the same money buys less than before. CPI is the number used to measure it.
- Fed (Federal Reserve)
- The US central bank. It sets interest rates, which affect how expensive it is to borrow money, even here in the Philippines.
- BSP (Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas)
- The Philippine central bank, PH's equivalent of the Fed.
- PSEi
- A single number that tracks how the Philippines' biggest company stocks are doing overall, like a report card for the PH stock market.
- bps (basis points)
- A small unit for measuring interest rate changes: 100 bps = 1%. Used because rate changes are usually tiny.
- 10-Yr Yield
- The interest rate the US government pays to borrow money long-term. When it rises, loans and mortgages tend to get pricier everywhere, not just in the US.
- USD/PHP
- How many pesos it takes to buy one US dollar.
- OFW remittances
- Money sent home by overseas Filipino workers, a key driver of peso demand.
Summaries, mover explanations, and forward-looking notes in this issue are AI-written from real market data and sourced news. Not financial advice.