Stock Market Today Aug 24 2026: Stocks Rise on Big Week Ahead

Stocks kicked off the week on a positive note Monday, August 24, 2026, with all three major indexes moving higher. The S&P 500 rose 0.41% to $765.72, the NASDAQ gained 0.35% to $713.44, and the Dow led the pack with a solid 0.89% jump to $532.22. It was a green start to what promises to be one of the more eventful weeks for the stock market in recent memory.

So what is everyone watching? Two words: Nvidia and the Fed. Nvidia is set to report earnings this week, and given how central the company has become to the artificial intelligence boom, its results could move the entire market. When a single company carries that much weight, investors pay very close attention to whether its growth is keeping up with sky-high expectations. Meanwhile, Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh is scheduled to deliver his first speech at the annual Jackson Hole economic symposium. Jackson Hole speeches have a history of signaling major shifts in monetary policy, so traders and long-term investors alike will be listening carefully for any clues about the direction of interest rates.

On the geopolitical front, headlines out of the Middle East were busy but mostly pointed toward diplomacy rather than escalation. Syria and Israel are reportedly holding U.S.-mediated talks aimed at easing tensions, though Syria's foreign minister acknowledged there is still no trust between the two sides. Iran also made news, pushing back against new U.S. sanctions threats and announcing the discovery of over 7.5 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. Oil prices moved higher on the back of these developments, which helped lift Gulf markets and added a tailwind to energy-related sentiment globally.

Closer to home, political developments are starting to simmer as the midterm elections approach. Democratic House leader Hakeem Jeffries reportedly met with Jared Kushner, a notable cross-party interaction as Democrats are currently favored to win a House majority in November. Political shifts can influence markets through potential changes in tax policy, regulation, and government spending, so this is worth keeping on your radar even if it feels far removed from your portfolio.

In the corporate world, United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby gave a wide-ranging interview discussing the airline's future plans, from proposed megadeals to the use of AI in operations. It is a reminder that AI is not just a tech sector story — it is reshaping how companies across every industry think about growth and efficiency.

For long-term investors, weeks like this are a good reminder that staying informed matters, but staying patient matters even more — the biggest gains come from letting your investments grow through the noise, not reacting to every headline.