U.S. Stocks Edged Higher as Investors Weighed Middle-East Impasse Against Earnings Outlook

Barry Adams
11 Aug, 2026
New York City

Stocks in New York lacked momentum on Tuesday, as investors reviewed the situation in the Middle East. 

The S&P 500 Index increased 0.1%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite advanced 0.3% amid a growing concern over the prospect of reopening the Strait of Hormuz. 

Iran avoided direct talks with the U.S. while continuing to set terms for reopening of the narrow passage for oil shipments in talks through the intermediary Oman. 

The West Texas Intermediate crude oil price per barrel decreased 0.4% to $81.36, and the Brent crude oil price per barrel declined 0.5% to $87.45. 

The yield on 10-year U.S. Treasury notes inched higher to 4.73% as surging oil prices strengthened expectations that the Federal Reserve could raise rates sooner than expected. 

 

U.S. Movers 

Intel dropped 1.4% to $96.20 after the chipmaker expanded its public offering to $20 billion from $15 billion, as the company seeks additional capital to expand its production capacity for artificial intelligence computing power.  

Plug Power soared 13.4% to $2.40 after the electrical equipment maker reported better-than-expected results in the second quarter.  

Net revenue increased to $178.3 million from $174.0 million, net loss shrank to $190.1 million from $228.7 million, and diluted loss per share eased to 14 cents from 20 cents a year ago. 

The hydrogen cell technology company raised its full-year 2026 revenue growth estimate to between 15% and 16%, and estimated operating earnings to return to positive in the fourth quarter, citing its solid order backlog. 

Hims & Hers Health dropped 5.7% to $29.96 after the telehealth platform operator reported its results for the second quarter. 

Revenue increased to $753.2 million from $544.8 million, net income swung to a loss of $86.3 million from a profit of $42.5 million, and diluted earnings per share swung to a loss of 37 cents from a profit of 17 cents. 

The company estimated revenue in the third quarter to range between $880 million and $900 million and adjusted operating income between $75 million and $95 million. 

For the full year 2026, the company estimated revenue to fall between $3.1 billion and $3.3 billion and adjusted operating income between $275 million and $325 million.