Stock market today: S&P 500, Nasdaq futures rise as tech leads, UnitedHealth weighs on Dow amid earnings flood
Yahoo Finance·2026-01-26 23:57

Market Overview - US stock futures showed mixed movements with S&P 500 futures rising 0.3% and Nasdaq 100 futures climbing 0.7%, while Dow Jones Industrial Average futures dropped approximately 0.3% due to a decline in UnitedHealth shares [1][4] - The market is reacting to a significant trade deal between the EU and India, which is seen as a counter to US tariff policies [2][12] Company Earnings and Performance - General Motors reported a fourth-quarter earnings beat with revenue of $45.29 billion, slightly below the estimated $45.37 billion, and adjusted EPS of $2.51 compared to the expected $2.28 [7] - GM announced a $6 billion share buyback plan and raised its dividend, projecting a resilient US new vehicle market for 2026 [5][7] - UnitedHealth's shares fell over 15% after a quarterly profit beat, as the proposed Medicare payment rates did not meet Wall Street expectations [4][20] Trade Developments - The EU and India finalized a free trade agreement expected to double EU goods exports to India by 2032, eliminating or reducing tariffs on 96.6% of EU goods exports to India [15][16] - The agreement aims to strengthen economic ties and reduce reliance on US tariffs, with both sides benefiting from the deal [12][13] Health Insurance Sector - Health insurers experienced significant stock declines following a report indicating a minimal increase in Medicare payment rates for 2027, with Humana's stock falling 12.5% and CVS Health's stock dropping over 10% [20][21] - UnitedHealth Group's stock also dropped 8.6% in after-hours trading, contributing to the downward pressure on the Dow Jones [20] Technology Sector - Optimism in the tech sector was bolstered by positive news from memory chipmakers, with key earnings reports from major companies like Meta, Microsoft, and Tesla expected soon [3] - Cloudflare's stock rose 9% following the launch of its new AI assistant, while Salesforce's stock increased by 2% due to a significant contract with the Army [9]