S&P 500 Hits New Records, GM Stock Jumps 8% On Earnings

Wall Street regains momentum as upbeat corporate earnings lift risk appetite

Jan. 27, 2026 at 12:39pm

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The S&P 500 briefly touched 6,990, marking a new record, while the Nasdaq 100 rallied 1.1% to 26,000, putting its prior October record back into view. General Motors surged over 8% after beating forecasts and issuing upbeat guidance, while health insurers broadly sold off after a proposed Medicare Advantage payment update from the Trump administration.

Why it matters

The S&P 500 hitting new all-time highs and the Nasdaq 100 nearing its prior record indicate a resurgence of investor confidence in the US equity markets. However, the sharp sell-off in health insurers highlights the potential impact of regulatory changes on certain sectors.

The details

The S&P 500 briefly touched a new record high of 6,990, led by gains in technology and utilities sectors. The Nasdaq 100 rallied 1.1% to 26,000, putting its prior 26,182 record back in sight. General Motors jumped over 8% after beating earnings forecasts and issuing upbeat guidance for 2026. In contrast, health insurers like UnitedHealth, Humana, Centene, CVS, and Elevance Health plunged after the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services proposed a much lower-than-expected increase in Medicare Advantage payments for 2027.

  • The S&P 500 briefly touched a new record high of 6,990 shortly after midday trading on Tuesday, January 27, 2026.
  • The Nasdaq 100 rallied 1.1% to 26,000 on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, putting its prior 26,182 record set in late October back into view.

The players

S&P 500

A stock market index that tracks the 500 largest publicly traded companies in the United States.

Nasdaq 100

A stock market index that includes the 100 largest non-financial companies listed on the Nasdaq stock exchange.

General Motors Co.

An American multinational corporation that designs, manufactures, markets, and distributes vehicles and vehicle parts, and sells financial services.

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)

A federal agency within the United States Department of Health and Human Services that administers the Medicare program and works in partnership with state governments to administer Medicaid.

UnitedHealth Group Inc.

An American for-profit managed health care company that provides health care coverage, software, and data consultancy services.

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The takeaway

The S&P 500 hitting new highs and the Nasdaq 100 nearing its prior record demonstrate the resilience of the US equity markets, but the sell-off in health insurers underscores the potential for regulatory changes to impact certain sectors. Investors will be closely watching how companies navigate the evolving market landscape.