Top of main content

Investment Daily: US stocks ended mostly higher with earnings in focus

21 October 2026

Key takeaways

  • US stocks and Treasuries rose.
  • European stocks and government bonds yields fell.
  • Asian stocks traded mostly lower.

Markets

US stocks closed mostly higher on Tuesday, with corporate earnings in focus. The S&P 500 rose 0.3%.

US Treasuries edged higher amid lower oil prices. 10-year yields fell 3bp to 5.11%.

European stocks fell on Tuesday. The Euro Stoxx 50 closed 0.4% lower. The German DAX ended little changed (-0.1%) and the French CAC was down 0.4%. In the UK, the FTSE 100 lost 0.3%.

European government bonds rose. 10-year German bund yields fell 5bp to 3.40%, and 10-year French bond yields edged 1bp lower to 4.93%. In the UK, 10-year gilt yields fell 2bp to 5.41%.

Asian stock markets traded mixed but mostly lower on Tuesday, amid lingering concerns over the AI trade and higher bond yields, as investors awaited earnings from major US tech firms. Korea’s Kospi dropped 3.7%, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 slid 1.3%. Elsewhere, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng fell 1.3%, while China’s Shanghai Composite edged 0.1% higher.

Crude oil prices fell on Tuesday. WTI for December delivery settled 1.8% lower at USD101.8 a barrel.

Key Data Releases and Events

Releases yesterday

No major releases.

Releases due today (21 October 2026)

In the UK, headline CPI inflation likely rose on higher petrol prices. Core inflation may have also increased amid sticky services inflation. 

Back to top  

Explore ways to invest

Capital at risk. Eligibility criteria and fees apply

Related Insights

The 2026 midterms could change control of Congress and with it, the legislative, fiscal...[5 Oct]
Historically, US midterm elections often lead to some volatility, but markets have proven...[1 Oct]
The Federal Reserve unanimously raised the federal funds target range by 0.25% to 3.75%...[17 Sep]

Disclaimer

We’re not trying to sell you any products or services, we’re just sharing information. This information isn’t tailored for you. It’s important you consider a range of factors when making investment decisions, and if you need help, speak to a financial adviser.

As with all investments, historical data shouldn’t be taken as an indication of future performance. We can’t be held responsible for any financial decisions you make because of this information. Investing comes with risks, and there’s a chance you might not get back as much as you put in.

This document provides you with information about markets or economic events. We use publicly available information, which we believe is reliable but we haven’t verified the information so we can’t guarantee its accuracy.

This document belongs to HSBC. You shouldn’t copy, store or share any information in it unless you have written permission from us.

We’ll never share this document in a country where it’s illegal.

This document is prepared by, or on behalf of, HSBC UK Bank Plc, which is owned by HSBC Holdings plc. HSBC’s corporate address is 1 Centenary Square, Birmingham BI IHQ United Kingdom. HSBC UK is governed by the laws of England and Wales. We’re authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the PRA. Our firm reference number is 765112 and our company registration number is 9928412.