Markets digest, 15 October 2026: US stocks close higher as the VIX eases

US stocks closed higher on Thursday 15 October, with the Dow up most of the three main indices, and the VIX eased. The EIA’s weekly report showed a large draw in US commercial crude stocks.

Stocks

The S&P 500 closed at 7,744.06, up from 7,718.94 on Wednesday. The Nasdaq Composite edged up to 26,713.030 from 26,692.870, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose to 52,177.69 from 51,621.48. In the UK, the FCA said that Jarvis Investment Management had entered special administration, leaving its clients unable to trade or use their assets for now; read our brief.

Crypto

Bitcoin ended Thursday at $82,140.24 on Coinbase, up from $81,694.05 on Wednesday. Ether rose to $2,439.71 from $2,424.00. There was no new crypto release from the SEC or the CFTC on Thursday.

Futures and options

The VIX closed at 16.46, down from 16.87 on Wednesday. The CFTC published no new press release or enforcement action on Thursday.

Energy and commodities

FRED’s oil and gas prices run to Wednesday 14 October: WTI at $101.91 a barrel, up from $100.86 a day earlier, Brent at $126.55, up from $125.78, and Henry Hub natural gas at $3.22, up from $3.14. The EIA’s latest Weekly Petroleum Status Report, for the week ending 9 October, said US commercial crude oil inventories decreased 8.6 million barrels to 415.6 million barrels. Gasoline inventories increased 3.5 million barrels and distillate inventories decreased 2.5 million barrels.

Metals

There were no new official metals releases on Thursday.

Forex

The ECB’s euro reference rate against the dollar was 1.1208, up from 1.1195 on Wednesday. The euro was quoted at 0.8461 pounds, up from 0.84385, and at 177.06 yen, down from 177.39. US Treasury yields fell: the 10-year was 5.10%, down from 5.19%, and the 2-year 4.77%, down from 4.82%, according to FRED.