New York stock market sees mixed performance amid Middle East tensions and earnings reports

On August 6, 2026, U.S. equity indices closed lower as the Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped more than 400 points, down 0.85% to 53,885.10, while the S&P 500 fell 0.18% to 7,709.96 and the Nasdaq lost 0.06% to 26,348.35. Traders cited Middle‑East geopolitical developments – including Iranian parliamentary moves concerning the Hormuz Strait – and rising oil prices as pressure on markets, alongside the ongoing earnings season.

Data‑storage firm Western Digital reported a 44% revenue jump and an eleven‑fold profit increase, yet its shares fell about 13%. Sandisk also saw its stock decline 6.8% despite revenue growth. Chip makers such as Intel, AMD and Marvell posted modest losses.

Ahead of the Federal Reserve’s non‑farm payroll release, labor‑market data showed initial unemployment claims rising to 199,000, below expectations, while non‑farm payrolls fell by 23,000, far short of the forecasted 85,000 gain. The unemployment rate edged down to 4.1%.

A later session saw a reversal, with the Dow gaining 0.28% to 54,036.93, the S&P 500 rising 0.62% to a record 7,757.64, and the Nasdaq climbing 1.30% to 26,690.62. Strong earnings from Atlassian (+35.3%), Microchip Technology (+13.9%), Cloudflare (+5.6%) and Airbnb (+17.4%) helped lift the market. President Donald Trump reiterated his stance on Iran, noting that military force remained an option if diplomacy failed.