Wall Street analysts delivered a dramatic split verdict Monday, slashing targets on financial and consumer names while placing bold bullish bets on AI infrastructure and cloud players. Find out which stocks got the biggest upgrades and which faced brutal double downgrades.
Wall Street analysts delivered a dramatic split verdict Monday, slashing targets on financial and consumer names while placing bold bullish bets on AI infrastructure and cloud players.
Find out which stocks got the biggest upgrades and which faced brutal double downgrades.
Wall Street analysts delivered a dramatic split verdict Monday, slashing targets on financial and consumer names while placing bold bullish bets on AI infrastructure and cloud players. Find out which stocks got the biggest upgrades and which faced brutal double…
Published October 19, 2026, 10:12am ET · 4 min read
Stocks are trading mixed, with the Nasdaq up sharply as we start another action-packed trading week, driven by a flood of third-quarter earnings from some of the biggest U.S. companies. All major indices finished Friday lower as selling pressure built throughout the day. The usual suspects were to blame: rising energy prices, inflation concerns after the CPI and PPI came in hotter than expected last week, and, lastly, the massive rotation out of AI-related technology stocks. When the dust settled Friday, the Nasdaq was the biggest loser, falling 2.15% to 26,140 and marking its worst week since June, while the small-cap Russell 2000 closed at 2,721, down 1.66%. The S&P 500 also posted its worst week since June, closing at 7,659, down 1.09%, while the Dow Jones Industrials fared best, closing at 52,002, down 0.34%. Mega-cap technology stocks have made it look like all is well, but we could be on the verge of one of the biggest pullbacks since 2008-2009.
After a roller-coaster week for bonds, including one of the biggest rallies in years, Monday brought more of the same. Yields fell across the curve as buyers kept loading up on some of the highest-yielding U.S. sovereign debt in years. The 30-year bond closed Friday at 5.43%, while the benchmark 10-year closed at 5.08%.
Prices were higher across the energy complex as geopolitical chaos flares up, shipping lanes come under attack, and short-term supply relief looks nonexistent. Iran has been launching missile and drone strikes at commercial tankers in the critical Strait of Hormuz. As a result, daily oil flows through the strait plummeted from a normal 17.15 million barrels to just 11.62 million barrels this week. Unsurprisingly, shipping rates and insurance premiums are skyrocketing. By the close, Brent Crude stood at $109.90, up 3.72%, while West Texas Intermediate was last seen at $101.40, up 3.51%. Natural gas was the biggest loser, down 3.71% to $3.12.
After a solid week for precious metals, Gold was basically flat on the day, as many investors were content to head into the weekend and see how geopolitical issues play out before making big commitments. Gold closed at $4,164, down just 0.12%, while Silver ended the session at $57.12, down 0.43%.
Crypto traders got a split decision on Friday as Bitcoin held its ground while the rest of the market sold off. The backdrop was the usual: heightened global inflation fears and a brutal day for equities. When the dust settled, Bitcoin (BTC) had climbed roughly 1.7% to trade near $82,162, but the strength never spread beyond the top name. The total crypto market cap fell 2.16% as altcoins took the brunt of the selling, with Bitcoin Cash among the biggest losers, plunging more than 6%. Bitcoin may make it look like all is well, but the rest of the market tells a very different story. At 10 AM EDT, Bitcoin traded at 82,091, and Ethereum was quoted at $2,402.
24/7 Wall St. reviews dozens of analyst research reports every day to identify fresh investment ideas for investors and traders alike. These daily analyst notes include recommendations on stocks to buy, sell, or avoid, as well as new coverage initiations. Important reminder: No single analyst report should ever be the sole basis for buying or selling a stock.
Averytin News Financial update.