S&P 500 today: stocks rise on Anthropic IPO buzz ahead of Fed week

What happened. On Monday all three main US indexes rose. The Nasdaq Composite, heavy with tech, did best: up 0.82%. The S&P 500 added 0.70% and the Dow Jones 0.28%. For the S&P 500 and Nasdaq it was a gain after two straight losing weeks. The source does not call it a record, so we do not either.

Why it rose. The main trigger: Anthropic publicly filed its S-1 with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the paperwork for going public. Yahoo Finance reports it showed more than $16 billion of revenue in the first half of the year. Chipmakers Nvidia, Broadcom and Micron rose. The tech sector led the market. We explained the filing itself in a separate story: /news/anthropic-ipo-s-1-filing-ticker-ant-2026-10/

What is on this week. The Fed begins a two-day meeting on Tuesday and announces its decision on Wednesday afternoon. It is expected to leave rates unchanged. But after hotter-than-expected inflation data, many experts see a tough tone, a so-called hawkish pause. Alphabet and Microsoft report after the close on Wednesday. Investors want to know whether rising AI spending is paying off. The European Central Bank, the Bank of Canada and the Bank of Japan also meet this week. We cover central banks in a separate story: /news/central-bank-week-fed-ecb-boj-2026-10-27/

What to keep in mind. One good day does not change a trend. Oil is still expensive and tension in the Middle East is high, which also weighs on sentiment. This is not a forecast and not advice to buy or sell anything. We just show what to watch.

Confirmed facts

• According to Yahoo Finance, on 26 October 2026 the S&P 500 rose 0.70% and closed at 7,676.77.^[1]
• The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.28% and closed at 52,361.58.^[1]
• The Nasdaq Composite rose 0.82% and closed at 26,169.38.^[1]
• The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite had both lost ground for two straight weeks before Monday.^[1]
• Nvidia, Broadcom and Micron shares jumped after Anthropic publicly filed its S-1 prospectus with the SEC.^[1]
• Anthropic's filing shows more than $16 billion in revenue for the first half of the year.^[1]
• Alphabet and Microsoft report earnings after the close on Wednesday.^[1]
• The Fed meeting starts on Tuesday with a decision expected on Wednesday afternoon; rates are expected to hold, and many experts expect a hawkish pause.^[1]
• The European Central Bank, the Bank of Canada and the Bank of Japan also hold policy meetings this week.^[1]

Implications

• ConfirmedAnthropic IPO news on Monday supported the tech sector and chip stocks.
• Our readingThe Fed's words and the Alphabet and Microsoft earnings this week could move market sentiment a lot.
• Our readingOne day of gains does not mean the two-week slide is over.

Still unknown

• What the Fed will decide and what tone it will take.
• What Alphabet and Microsoft will say about AI spending.
• Whether the appetite for AI stocks lasts through the week.

Who it affects

United States, Global. Anyone following US stocks and the AI theme, in any country

Sources

1. Yahoo Finance: Stock market today: Dow, S&P 500, Nasdaq gain as Anthropic IPO buzz reignites AI trade ahead of busy tech earnings week October 26, 2026 · media