Markets digest, 19 October 2026: S&P 500 and Nasdaq rise as the VIX eases to 18.44
The S&P 500 closed at 7,690.73 and the Nasdaq Composite at 26,430.890, both higher, while the Dow slipped. The VIX fell to 18.44 and the euro eased to 1.1225 dollars.
The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite closed higher on Monday 19 October and the VIX eased, while the Dow edged lower. Bitcoin and Ether were little changed, and the euro slipped against the dollar.
Stocks
The S&P 500 closed at 7,690.73, up from 7,659.44 on Friday, and the Nasdaq Composite rose to 26,430.890 from 26,140.030. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped to 51,966.03 from 52,002.41. The SEC announced that it will hold a public roundtable on 9 November on machine-understandable data and what it calls Super Intelligence, including the related risks and costs.
Crypto
Bitcoin ended Monday at $81,804.35 on Coinbase, down from $81,977.73 on Sunday, and Ether at $2,403.81, down from $2,408.97. Neither the SEC nor the CFTC published a crypto-specific release on Monday.
Futures and options
The VIX closed at 18.44, down from 19.99 on Friday. The CFTC announced on Monday that a New York federal court had ordered EminiFX and its founder to pay over $288 million in a commodity pool case; read our brief.
Energy and commodities
FRED had not added oil or gas prices after Wednesday 14 October at the time of writing. Its latest values are WTI at $101.91 a barrel, Brent at $126.55 and Henry Hub natural gas at $3.22.
Metals
The World Gold Council published research on Monday putting the digital gold market at US$45–55bn; read our brief. There were no LBMA releases on prices or market rules.
Forex
The ECB’s euro reference rate against the dollar was 1.1225, down from 1.1253 on Friday. The euro was quoted at 0.84205 pounds, down from 0.84385, and at 177.63 yen, down from 177.82. FRED had not published Monday’s Treasury yields at the time of writing; on Friday the 10-year was 5.09% and the 2-year 4.74%. For when each currency centre is open, see our guide to FX trading sessions and liquidity.
- FRED: S&P 500 (SP500)
- FRED: Nasdaq Composite (NASDAQCOM)
- FRED: Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA)
- FRED: Coinbase Bitcoin (CBBTCUSD)
- FRED: Coinbase Ethereum (CBETHUSD)
- FRED: CBOE Volatility Index (VIXCLS)
- FRED: WTI crude oil, Cushing (DCOILWTICO)
- FRED: Brent crude oil, Europe (DCOILBRENTEU)
- FRED: Henry Hub natural gas spot price (DHHNGSP)
- FRED: 10-year Treasury yield (DGS10)
- FRED: 2-year Treasury yield (DGS2)
- ECB euro foreign exchange reference rates (USD, GBP, JPY), 16–19 October 2026
- SEC press release 2026-106: SEC Announces Roundtable on Machine-Understandable Data in the Age of Super Intelligence (19 October 2026)
- CFTC Release No. 9311-26: CFTC Secures Federal Court Orders Requiring Former Long Island Resident and His Firm to Pay Over $288 Million (19 October 2026)
- World Gold Council press release: Unlocking Digital Gold's US$700bn Opportunity (19 October 2026)
Markets: Stocks · Crypto · Futures & Options · Energy & Commodities · Metals · Forex
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