Stock Market Today, May 20: Nasdaq Gains 1.5% as Risk Appetite Returns

U.S. equities rose on May 20, 2026, as falling oil prices and easing 10-year Treasury yields lifted risk appetite. The S&P 500 gained about 1.1% and the Nasdaq climbed 1.5%, led by AI hardware names. Nvidia rose ahead of its post-close earnings and later beat analyst estimates, though the stock softened in after-hours trading. AMD and select AI-related names advanced on renewed confidence, while software names such as Salesforce and CrowdStrike recovered ground. WTI crude tumbled ~5% to about $99/bbl, and Hasbro plunged nearly 9% despite an earnings beat, underscoring that headline-driven moves and guidance remain market drivers.