U.S. markets enter Thursday, April 2, 2026 with the backdrop set by the Wednesday, April 1 close. Stocks built on recent gains. Oil prices stayed high. Yields held steady. The dollar was little changed.

The S&P 500 sits at 6,582.40. The Dow is at 46,715.30. The Nasdaq is at 21,480.15. The Russell 2000 is at 2,472.60.

Oil remains elevated. Yields remain firm. This maintains the same tight financial backdrop heading into today.

The last completed session showed follow-through buying.

The S&P 500 rose 1.1%. The Dow gained 477 points. The Nasdaq added 1.2%. Indexes continue to recover ground but stay below longer-term peaks. Small caps rose to 2,472.60 yet still lag. Participation improved slightly but remains uneven.

Bond yields were stable. The 10-year Treasury yield holds at 4.36%. This level continues to signal expensive borrowing for homes, businesses, and consumers.

No major shift occurred in fixed income.

The U.S. Dollar Index sits at 100.05. Dollar demand eased slightly after recent strength. It still reflects the yield advantage versus other markets.

Energy prices remained high. WTI crude closed near $101.20. Brent crude closed near $113.50. Costs for energy users stay elevated. Gold traded near $4,580 per ounce with little net change. Oil levels continue to drive the commodity picture.

Macro data references are unchanged. Initial jobless claims remain at 210,000, confirming labor resilience. Consumer sentiment is at 53.3, showing ongoing household caution. The Federal Reserve target range holds at 3.50%–3.75%. Stable employment data contrasts with cost and confidence pressures.

Key reference levels:

Markets open last Thursday with stocks higher but oil and yields still setting a cautious tone.

The main numbers in control are these persistent elevated energy prices and borrowing costs.