US Stocks Little Changed as Oil Prices Climb
Major indexes saw minimal movement Wednesday despite a 3% rise in oil prices and mixed corporate earnings reports.
Major U.S. stock indexes showed little change on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, as oil prices reached their highest point in nearly six weeks. The S&P 500 edged down 0.1%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average remained virtually unchanged, and the Nasdaq composite fell 0.6%.
Energy markets saw Brent crude oil prices climb another 3%, reaching their highest level in almost six weeks. Treasury yields also rose in the bond market.
Despite the broader market's slight dip, some individual stocks performed well. Philip Morris International, AT&T, and others saw gains after reporting stronger-than-expected profits for the spring quarter. However, volatility in AI stocks continued to influence the U.S. market.
On Wednesday, the S&P 500 closed at 7,498.96, up 10.24 points. The Dow Jones Industrial Average finished at 52,218.58, down 6.06 points. The Nasdaq composite declined 146.30 points to end at 25,690.90, and the Russell 2000 index of smaller companies fell 0.9% to 2,959.94.
Year-to-date, the S&P 500 has gained 9.5%, while the Dow is up 8.6%. The Nasdaq has seen a 10.5% increase, and the Russell 2000 has risen 19.3%.