Why Is the Stock Market Up Today, 7/20/26?
Complete. Here is the key summaryThe S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 rose on July 20, 2026, driven by hopes for a U.S.-Iran ceasefire following nine days of strikes. AI stocks, including Micron, AMD, and Intel, led gains after a previous selloff. Investors are also anticipating a busy earnings week featuring reports from Alphabet, Tesla, IBM, Lockheed Martin, American Express, and Verizon.
Both the S&P 500 (SPX) and the Nasdaq 100 (NDX) are trading higher on Monday amid renewed hopes of a ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran.
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Mediators have proposed a temporary ceasefire between the two sides, although neither country has yet to respond. Still, officials from both the U.S. and Iran have indicated that they are open to exploring a path toward negotiations. That comes after nine consecutive days of U.S. strikes on Iran as Washington aims to limit Tehran's ability to threaten shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
AI Stocks Rally ahead of Action-Packed Earnings Week
Elsewhere, AI stocks are leading the market higher following a selloff last week fueled by competition from China. Micron (MU), AMD (AMD), and Intel (INTC) are all in the green.
Furthermore, investors are gearing up for a busy week of earnings. Alphabet (GOOGL), Tesla (TSLA), and IBM (IBM) are set to report on Wednesday. Intel (INTC) and Lockheed Martin (LMT) will report the next trading day, followed by American Express (AXP) and Verizon (VZ) on Friday.