US stock markets end Friday nearly flat as fourth quarter earnings season begins
Major US stock indexes posted weekly losses as the fourth quarter earnings season began. Solid bank results were countered by proposed credit card rate caps.
Insights:
The US 
USstock markets ended Friday, January 17, 2026, nearly flat, concluding a week where all three major indexes posted overall losses. The S&P 500 closed down 5.01 points, or 0.07 percent, finishing at 6,939.46, while the Nasdaq Composite shed 15.60 points, also a 0.07 percent decline, to end at 23,514.42. The Dow Jones Industrial Average saw a larger drop of 87.13 points, or 0.18 percent, to close the session at 49,355.31. This cautious trading occurred as the fourth-quarter earnings season officially kicked off with bank earnings reports released during the week of January 13-17.
USstock markets ended Friday, January 17, 2026, nearly flat, concluding a week where all three major indexes posted overall losses. The S&P 500 closed down 5.01 points, or 0.07 percent, finishing at 6,939.46, while the Nasdaq Composite shed 15.60 points, also a 0.07 percent decline, to end at 23,514.42. The Dow Jones Industrial Average saw a larger drop of 87.13 points, or 0.18 percent, to close the session at 49,355.31. This cautious trading occurred as the fourth-quarter earnings season officially kicked off with bank earnings reports released during the week of January 13-17.
