Stock Market Today, Oct. 12: Dow Gains as Memory Stocks Weigh on Nasdaq

Source The Motley Fool

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJINDICES:^DJI) rose 0.38% to 51,851 as investors favored value-oriented sectors, while the S&P 500 (SNPINDEX:^GSPC) slipped 0.06% to 7,807 and the Nasdaq Composite (NASDAQINDEX:^IXIC) fell 0.44% to 27,246 on technology sector weakness.

Gold prices fell 0.64% to $4,167.56 as of U.S. market close, and the 10-Year Treasury yield edged up 0.01% to 5.24%. Communication services and consumer defensive stocks led all sectors, while technology stocks lagged.

Today's biggest moves

Salesforce gained on an analyst upgrade, and Figs surged over 12% as the healthcare apparel attracted further investor attention -- the stock is now up over 30% in the past five days. Sandisk tumbled more than 6% on memory competition concerns, and Lumentum Holdings fell almost 10%, erasing last week's gains as investors retreated from artificial intelligence (AI) industry stocks. On the flip side, Meta Platforms shares increased following the launch of Muse Wonder, its latest AI model.

What this means for investors

It's the fourth anniversary of the S&P 500, which has gained over 120% since Oct. 12, 2022, and investors will be watching the final reporting season of the year for resilience and signs that the rally still has further to run. Financial stocks gained ahead of key earnings from major banks this week. It will be a high-impact week, with key inflation data due and oil prices rising. Bond markets were closed today.

Against that backdrop, Tech stocks came under pressure, weighing on the Nasdaq while the Dow gained as investors rotated into cautious sectors. Semiconductor names like like Marvell Technology (NASDAQ:MRVL) and Semtech (NASDAQ:SMTC) declined on renewed valuation jitters.

Should you buy stock in S&P 500 Index right now?

Before you buy stock in S&P 500 Index, consider this:

The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and S&P 500 Index wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.

Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $379,123!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,408,822!*

Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 950% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 215% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.

See the 10 stocks »

*Stock Advisor returns as of October 12, 2026.

Emma Newbery has positions in Marvell Technology. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Bristol Myers Squibb, Figs, Lumentum, Marvell Technology, Meta Platforms, and Salesforce. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Disclaimer: For information purposes only. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
placeholder
October hike odds climb toward 60% as Goldman and BofA both flip — what Warsh's "dose of accommodation" really changedRate futures now price roughly 55% to 62% for a 25bp hike at the October 27-28 FOMC, up from about 30% before Chair Warsh's post-meeting framing that the Fed is merely "removing some accommodation." Goldman Sachs has added an October hike to its forecast and Bank of America now sees moves in both October and December. Here is the repricing, the language behind it, and the two data points that decide it.
Author  Irene Q.
Sep 23, Wed
Rate futures now price roughly 55% to 62% for a 25bp hike at the October 27-28 FOMC, up from about 30% before Chair Warsh's post-meeting framing that the Fed is merely "removing some accommodation." Goldman Sachs has added an October hike to its forecast and Bank of America now sees moves in both October and December. Here is the repricing, the language behind it, and the two data points that decide it.
placeholder
Hurricane Isaias has shut in a quarter of Gulf oil output — can WTI clear $92 before Thursday's EIA report?WTI trades at $90.80 after rebounding roughly 3% from Wednesday's $87.96 low as Hurricane Isaias — the Atlantic season's first — forces producers to shut in about 25% of US Gulf of Mexico output. Brent holds at $103.41. The first official read on the disruption arrives with the EIA weekly petroleum report on Thursday 15 October — here are the key levels and both scenarios.
Author  Irene Q.
Oct 09, Fri
WTI trades at $90.80 after rebounding roughly 3% from Wednesday's $87.96 low as Hurricane Isaias — the Atlantic season's first — forces producers to shut in about 25% of US Gulf of Mexico output. Brent holds at $103.41. The first official read on the disruption arrives with the EIA weekly petroleum report on Thursday 15 October — here are the key levels and both scenarios.
placeholder
US September CPI preview: inflation set to hit 3.7% — will the Fed hike in December?US September CPI lands Wednesday with headline inflation seen at 3.7% y/y and core at 0.2% m/m. December hike odds sit near 70% — here are the scenarios, the calendar and the key levels.
Author  Irene Q.
Oct 10, Sat
US September CPI lands Wednesday with headline inflation seen at 3.7% y/y and core at 0.2% m/m. December hike odds sit near 70% — here are the scenarios, the calendar and the key levels.
placeholder
Gold posts first weekly gain in three weeks — can $4,200 hold through CPI?Spot gold closed at $4,194.645, up 1.47% — its first weekly gain in three weeks — and COMEX futures settled back above $4,200 at $4,220.30. Here are the drivers, the levels and the scenarios into Wednesday's CPI.
Author  Irene Q.
Oct 10, Sat
Spot gold closed at $4,194.645, up 1.47% — its first weekly gain in three weeks — and COMEX futures settled back above $4,200 at $4,220.30. Here are the drivers, the levels and the scenarios into Wednesday's CPI.
placeholder
Brent swings $105.63 to $102.33 as Gulf risk meets an 'energy ceasefire' — can $100 hold into CPI?Brent spiked to $105.63 in Asian trade on fresh Middle East supply incidents, then reversed to $102.33 after the US announced a Russia-Ukraine 'energy ceasefire' and 300,000+ tonnes of Russian diesel headed to global markets; WTI fell through $90. Here are the drivers, the levels and the scenarios into Wednesday's US CPI.
Author  Irene Q.
Yesterday 05: 47
Brent spiked to $105.63 in Asian trade on fresh Middle East supply incidents, then reversed to $102.33 after the US announced a Russia-Ukraine 'energy ceasefire' and 300,000+ tonnes of Russian diesel headed to global markets; WTI fell through $90. Here are the drivers, the levels and the scenarios into Wednesday's US CPI.
goTop
quote