US Equity Indexes Close Mixed as Quarterly Earnings From Old Economy Giants Help Lift Dow Jones

05:02 PM EDT, 10/21/2025 (MT Newswires) -- US equity indexes ended mixed on Tuesday as the Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced on the back of strong quarterly results from old economy names, and gold futures saw reportedly the biggest intraday drop since 2013.

The Dow climbed 0.5% to 46,924.74, the S&P 500 was unchanged at 6,735.35, and the Nasdaq Composite fell 0.2% to 22,953.666 at the close. Consumer discretionary, industrials, and healthcare were the only sectors in the green. Utilities and communication services led the decliners.

3M (MMM) reported Q3 adjusted earnings and net sales above analysts' expectations after posting strong growth from a year ago. Shares surged 7.7%, the Dow's top performer.

Coca-Cola (KO) reported better-than-expected fiscal Q3 earnings amid pricing and volume gains. Shares jumped 4.1%, the second-biggest gainer on the Dow.

General Motors (GM) lifted its full-year earnings outlook while lowering expected tariff headwinds after Q3 results topped market estimates. Its shares soared 15%, the leader on the S&P 500.

Warner Bros. Discovery's (WBD) shares surged 11%, the top performer on the Nasdaq, after the media and entertainment giant said it is open to a potential sale as it initiated a review of strategic alternatives after receiving interest from "multiple parties."

Meanwhile, gold futures sank 5.2% to $4,135.01, diving from Monday's all-time high amid a rising dollar, according to a research note from D. A. Davidson. Silver futures slumped 6.8% to $47.91, also retreating from record territories. The ICE US Dollar Index, which measures the greenback's performance against major currencies such as the yen and the euro, climbed 0.4% to 98.97.

Separately, the US federal government shutdown entered its 21st day on Tuesday after the Senate once again rejected the House-passed short-term spending bill on Monday, NBC News reported.

On Monday, Trump and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese signed a critical minerals framework, the White House said. Both countries aim to invest more than $3 billion together in critical mineral projects over the next six months.

Trump also said on the same day he expected to reach a fair trade deal with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, as they are likely to meet on the sidelines of an economic conference in South Korea next week, Reuters reported.

Most US Treasury yields fell, with the 10-year yield down 2.5 basis points to 3.96%, the lowest since April on an intraday basis.

West Texas Intermediate crude oil futures rose 0.6% to $57.86 a barrel.

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