We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience.
This includes personalizing content and advertising.
By pressing "Accept All" or closing out of this banner, you consent to the use of all cookies and similar technologies and the sharing of information they collect with third parties.
You can reject marketing cookies by pressing "Deny Optional," but we still use essential, performance, and functional cookies.
In addition, whether you "Accept All," Deny Optional," click the X or otherwise continue to use the site, you accept our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service, revised from time to time.
You are being directed to ZacksTrade, a division of LBMZ Securities and licensed broker-dealer. ZacksTrade and Zacks.com are separate companies. The web link between the two companies is not a solicitation or offer to invest in a particular security or type of security. ZacksTrade does not endorse or adopt any particular investment strategy, any analyst opinion/rating/report or any approach to evaluating individual securities.
If you wish to go to ZacksTrade, click OK. If you do not, click Cancel.
U.S. stocks closed lower on Thursday as rising geopolitical tensions and uncertainty around Iran weighed on sentiment, while investors continue to evaluate earnings results and economic data. The Nasdaq Composite, the S&P 500 and the Dow all ended in negative territory.
How Did The Benchmarks Perform?
The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) fell 0.4%, or 179.71 points, to close at 49,310.32. Fourteen components of the 30-stock index ended in negative territory, and 16 ended in positive territory.
The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite declined 0.9%, to close at 24,438.50.
The S&P 500 lost 0.4% or 29.50 points, to end at 7,108.40. Out of 11 broad sectors of the broad-market index, six ended in negative territory, and five ended in positive territory. The Information Technology Select Sector SPDR (XLK), the Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR (XLY) and the Financials Select Sector SPDR (XLF) fell 1.5%, 0.9%, and 0.8%, respectively, while the Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR (XLP) rose 1.7%.
The fear gauge, the CBOE Volatility Index (VIX), increased by 2.1% to 19.31. A total of 17.41 billion shares were traded on Thursday, lower than the last 20-session average of 18.33 billion. The S&P 500 posted 41 new 52-week highs and eight new lows, and the Nasdaq Composite recorded 124 new highs and 103 new lows.
Uncertainty Grows Around Iran Talks
Iranian politician Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has pulled out of the Iranian team negotiating with the United States, casting doubts on the progress of the ongoing talks, according to Reuters.
Donald Trump told the U.S. Navy to destroy any vessels attempting to lay mines in the Strait of Hormuz. These developments have kept market sentiment cautious with close attention to further geopolitical developments.
Q1 Earnings Results in Focus
American Airlines Group Inc. (AAL - Free Report) reported a first-quarter 2026 adjusted loss of $0.4 per share, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.45. Quarterly net revenues were $13.91 billion, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.72%.
American Express Company (AXP - Free Report) reported first-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of $4.28 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4.03 per share. Quarterly net revenues were $18.91 billion, which outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.55%.
NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE - Free Report) reported first-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of $1.09 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.98 per share. Quarterly net revenues came in at $6.7 billion, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 7.01%.
Union Pacific Corporation (UNP - Free Report) reported first-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of $2.93 per share, outpacing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.85 per share. Quarterly net revenues were $6.22 billion, above the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.14%.
Economic Data
In economic data released on Thursday, the Labor Department said that jobless claims totaled 214,000 for the week ending April 18, an increase of 6,000 from the previous week’s revised level of 208,000. The four-week moving average was 210,750, an increase of 750 from the previous week’s revised average of 210,000.
Continuing claims came in at 1,821,000, reflecting an increase of 12,000 from the previous week’s revised level of 1,809,000. The 4-week moving average was 1,812,250, an increase of 1,250 from the previous week's revised average of 1,811,000.
Zacks' 7 Best Strong Buy Stocks (New Research Report)
Valued at $99, click below to receive our just-released report
predicting the 7 stocks that will soar highest in the coming month.
View the Zacks #1 Rank List
Image: Bigstock
Stock Market News for Apr 24, 2026
U.S. stocks closed lower on Thursday as rising geopolitical tensions and uncertainty around Iran weighed on sentiment, while investors continue to evaluate earnings results and economic data. The Nasdaq Composite, the S&P 500 and the Dow all ended in negative territory.
How Did The Benchmarks Perform?
The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) fell 0.4%, or 179.71 points, to close at 49,310.32. Fourteen components of the 30-stock index ended in negative territory, and 16 ended in positive territory.
The major loser of the Dow was Salesforce, Inc. (CRM - Free Report) . The stock price of this customer relationship management company fell 17.8%. Salesforce currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite declined 0.9%, to close at 24,438.50.
The S&P 500 lost 0.4% or 29.50 points, to end at 7,108.40. Out of 11 broad sectors of the broad-market index, six ended in negative territory, and five ended in positive territory. The Information Technology Select Sector SPDR (XLK), the Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR (XLY) and the Financials Select Sector SPDR (XLF) fell 1.5%, 0.9%, and 0.8%, respectively, while the Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR (XLP) rose 1.7%.
The fear gauge, the CBOE Volatility Index (VIX), increased by 2.1% to 19.31. A total of 17.41 billion shares were traded on Thursday, lower than the last 20-session average of 18.33 billion. The S&P 500 posted 41 new 52-week highs and eight new lows, and the Nasdaq Composite recorded 124 new highs and 103 new lows.
Uncertainty Grows Around Iran Talks
Iranian politician Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has pulled out of the Iranian team negotiating with the United States, casting doubts on the progress of the ongoing talks, according to Reuters.
Donald Trump told the U.S. Navy to destroy any vessels attempting to lay mines in the Strait of Hormuz. These developments have kept market sentiment cautious with close attention to further geopolitical developments.
Q1 Earnings Results in Focus
American Airlines Group Inc. (AAL - Free Report) reported a first-quarter 2026 adjusted loss of $0.4 per share, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.45. Quarterly net revenues were $13.91 billion, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.72%.
American Express Company (AXP - Free Report) reported first-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of $4.28 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4.03 per share. Quarterly net revenues were $18.91 billion, which outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.55%.
NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE - Free Report) reported first-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of $1.09 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.98 per share. Quarterly net revenues came in at $6.7 billion, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 7.01%.
Union Pacific Corporation (UNP - Free Report) reported first-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of $2.93 per share, outpacing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.85 per share. Quarterly net revenues were $6.22 billion, above the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.14%.
Economic Data
In economic data released on Thursday, the Labor Department said that jobless claims totaled 214,000 for the week ending April 18, an increase of 6,000 from the previous week’s revised level of 208,000. The four-week moving average was 210,750, an increase of 750 from the previous week’s revised average of 210,000.
Continuing claims came in at 1,821,000, reflecting an increase of 12,000 from the previous week’s revised level of 1,809,000. The 4-week moving average was 1,812,250, an increase of 1,250 from the previous week's revised average of 1,811,000.