The US stock market achieved record highs on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, with the S&P 500, Dow Jones Industrial Average, and Nasdaq composite all seeing significant gains. This rally was attributed to a continued increase in corporate profits and a notable decrease in oil prices.
The S&P 500 climbed 1.8%, closing at 7,736.52, and exceeded its prior all-time high. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose by 907 points, or 1.7%, to 54,085.88, setting a new record. The Nasdaq composite also saw a substantial jump of 2.6%, reaching 26,584.99.
Palantir Technologies surged 29.5% after its CEO, Alex Karp, reported a 93% leap in overall revenue for what he described as an “otherworldly” quarter. The AI company also raised its revenue forecast for the full year of 2026. Caterpillar also saw its shares climb 5.6% after reporting stronger-than-expected profit and revenue, marking the first time it achieved over $20 billion in sales and revenue in a single quarter.
Brent crude, the international oil standard, sank 5.3% to $79.36 per barrel. This drop in oil prices contributed to the positive market sentiment.