U.S. stocks traded higher on October 20, led by the Nasdaq Composite, which rose 1.24% to 26,465.39. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.06% to 52,031.59, while the S&P 500 advanced 0.56% to 7,702.61. Consumer discretionary shares rose 2.7%, while utilities fell 1.9%. The NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index dropped for a second consecutive month to 29 in October, its lowest reading since June 2012, from 32 and below the estimate of 32. Silence Therapeutics shares surged 126% after agreeing to be acquired by Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, while J-Star Holding rose 60% and Disc Medicine gained 34% on company-specific announcements. INLIF fell 87% after pricing a $3.75 million registered direct offering, EyePoint dropped 82% after its LUCIA trial missed its primary endpoint, and Glass House Brands declined 39% after reporting preliminary third-quarter revenue of $56.8 million. Oil rose 1.8% to $103.20, while gold, silver and copper finished at $4,172.70, $57.42 and $6.5440, respectively. European shares fell, while Asian markets closed mixed. The item included a Shutterstock photo and carried the credit JH Kim.