Earnings season, the theme of the week on Wall Street, pushed stocks higher Monday. Upbeat post-earnings sentiment sent the Dow and S&P 500 to fresh record highs, with big banks among those making major moves, as well as a myriad of blue-chip leaders. Investors' eyes are peeled for Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA) and Netflix (NFLX), which include some of the larger names due out later this week.

Elsewhere, the VIX slipped back below 20 for the first time in over a week. Investors expect more volatility out of Middle East tensions and the 2024 U.S. presidential election, the latter of which sits just three weeks out.

OIL, GOLD PULL BACK AMID CHINA STIMULUS FRUSTRATION

Still being skimped out of stimulus details from China, oil prices sank. November-dated West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude fell $1.73, or 2.3%, to settle at $73.83 per barrel for the session.

A rising dollar and frustration surrounding the lack of stimulus news out of China sent gold lower today. Gold for December delivery sank 0.3% to trade at $2,667.50, at last check.

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