The PrimeFlow Desk · Wednesday, October 21, 2026 · Market Brief
Elon Musk runs two of the best-known companies in America. On the evening of Tuesday, October 20, 2026, he said the boards of SpaceX and Tesla are both studying whether the two should become one. Tesla reports its own third-quarter numbers after the close on Wednesday, October 21.
Where the market closed on Tuesday, October 20
- S&P 500: 7,712.57, up 0.28%
- Dow: 52,495.88, up 1.02%
- Nasdaq: 26,424.82, down 0.02%
- Russell 2000: 2,773.41, up 1.65%
- 10-year Treasury yield: 5.12%, down from 5.15%
- Oil (Brent): $108.79 a barrel, down 0.7%
The Dow did the lifting on Tuesday. The 10-year yield, the rate that steers mortgage costs, held above 5%.
SpaceX and Tesla form committees to study a merger
On SpaceX’s third-quarter results call, Musk said SpaceX and Tesla have each set up a committee of independent directors to study a combination. He runs both companies, so he is staying out of the talks.
He likes the idea, but said there’s no guarantee of a deal, and that Tesla would need a yes from half of all its shares, not just the ones that vote. He called that “quite a high hurdle.”
SpaceX also beat forecasts: third-quarter sales of $14.6 billion, up 161% from a year ago, and a $4.4 billion profit. Both stocks rose in late trading.
My view: a vote of half of every Tesla share is a long road, and I wouldn’t trade on merger talk. Tonight’s numbers matter more to the stock. Results that land after the close get their verdict at the next morning’s open, which is why we wrote a plain guide to the best time of day to trade stocks.
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Netflix third-quarter results: a smaller ad year
Netflix sales grew 12% last quarter to $12.9 billion. But the company now expects about $2.7 billion in advertising revenue this year, down from about $3 billion, and it trimmed its 2026 free cash flow outlook to about $12 billion from $12.5 billion. The shares fell more than 5% before the opening bell on Wednesday.
On the calendar for Wednesday, October 21 (ET)
- 10:30 AM: the government’s weekly count of U.S. oil supplies
- After the close: Tesla third-quarter results
- After the close: Meta results, and its spending on artificial intelligence
The record
As of 21 October 2026 the public trade log shows 490 closed alerts: 469 wins, 17 losses and 4 breakeven. See every closed alert on the public log.
Until the bell,
Christopher
Editor, PrimeFlow Trades
PrimeFlow Trades publishes market commentary and trade alerts for education. Nothing here is personal investment advice. Trading stocks involves risk, including the loss of money. Past results, including those on our public trade log, do not guarantee future results.
