Stock Market Today: November 2, 2026 — Tech Rout Lifts Staples
The Nasdaq Composite fell 1.07% while the S&P 500 declined 0.51% as Technology dropped 7.69%, with Newell Brands up 15.06% among the day's small-cap gainers.
TL;DR: The S&P 500 closed down 0.51% at 7,541.40 and the Nasdaq Composite dropped 1.07% to 25,164.36, while the Dow Jones gained 0.41% to 51,983.98; Newell Brands led small caps with a 15.06% gain to 5.96.
A violent rotation dominated the tape on November 2, 2026, as Technology led the decliners and defensive sectors led the advance. The Nasdaq Composite fell 1.07% to 25,164.36 on the strength of a 7.69% decline in the Technology sector, while the Dow Jones bucked the weakness to close up 0.41% at 51,983.98. The S&P 500 settled at 7,541.40, down 0.51%, as the VIX jumped 8.91% to 21.15. WTI crude tumbled 7.25% to 96.57 and gold rose 1.74% to 3,966.90, signaling a broad risk-off repricing across the complex.
Newell Brands Leads Small-Cap Gainers at 5.96
Newell Brands Inc. NWL was one of the day's most striking small-cap stories, closing at 5.96 after a 15.06% gain. Sub-$10 names rarely headline the top gainers list on a broad down day, and the move in Newell Brands stood out against a market where the Russell 2000 slipped 0.21% to 2,805.88. The stock's percentage advance was second only to IDEXX Laboratories among the day's top five gainers.
IDEXX Laboratories Climbs 21.85% to 671.64
IDEXX Laboratories Inc. IDXX closed at 671.64, up 21.85%, leading the day's top gainers by a wide margin. The move was the largest single-name advance in the provided data and came while Health Care as a sector managed only a 0.30% gain. The magnitude of the IDXX move made it the standout equity story of the session, dwarfing the percentage moves in the broader indices.
Lumentum Falls 18.59% to Lead Decliners
Lumentum Holdings Inc. LITE closed at 684.40, down 18.59%, pacing the day's top losers. The decline was the steepest among the five names listed and contributed to the Technology sector's 7.69% drop, the worst sector performance of the day. Marvell Technology Inc. MRVL also fell 12.72% to 171.41, reinforcing the broad weakness in the group.
Defensive Rotation Sets Up Tomorrow's Scanner
Today's pattern — Technology down 7.69%, Consumer Staples up 3.01%, and Materials up 2.17% — suggests tomorrow's session should be scanned for continuation in defensive names and further downside in high-beta tech. The VIX at 21.15 and the 10-year yield at 4.89% add volatility context for gap-and-go setups. Check today's gainers to see which names carried momentum into the close.
THE NUMBERS BLOCK
S&P 500: 7,541.40, -0.51%, +9.96% YTD
Nasdaq Composite: 25,164.36, -1.07%, +8.30% YTD
Dow Jones: 51,983.98, +0.41%, +7.44% YTD
Russell 2000: 2,805.88, -0.21%, +11.87% YTD
VIX: 21.15, +8.91%
10-Year Treasury Yield: 4.89, -0.71%
US Dollar Index: 101.78, -0.10%
WTI Crude: 96.57, -7.25%
Gold: 3,966.90, +1.74%
| Sector | ETF | Day % | YTD % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer Staples | XLP | +3.01% | +16.91% |
| Materials | XLB | +2.17% | +16.37% |
| Consumer Discretionary | XLY | +1.69% | -0.16% |
| Real Estate | XLRE | +1.35% | +8.07% |
| Utilities | XLU | +1.23% | +1.13% |
| Financials | XLF | +1.09% | +4.79% |
| Health Care | XLV | +0.30% | +18.71% |
| Industrials | XLI | -0.25% | +7.42% |
| Communication Services | XLC | -0.94% | -14.23% |
| Energy | XLE | -2.12% | +47.32% |
| Technology | XLK | -7.69% | +20.73% |
- Watch for continuation in Consumer Staples and Materials leadership tomorrow
- Monitor Technology for further downside after the 7.69% sector decline