Markets digest, 22 October 2026: Nasdaq falls and the VIX rises to 19.03 as Bitcoin slips
The Nasdaq Composite closed at 26,008.860 and the Dow edged up to 52,867.98. The VIX rose to 19.03, Bitcoin fell to $81,225.62 and the euro eased to 1.1205 dollars.
The Nasdaq Composite fell on Thursday 22 October while the Dow edged higher, and the VIX rose. Bitcoin and Ether ended the day lower, US natural gas stocks rose by 77 billion cubic feet in the latest week, and the euro slipped against the dollar, the pound and the yen.
Stocks
The Nasdaq Composite closed at 26,008.860, down from 26,702.860 on Wednesday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average edged up to 52,867.98 from 52,856.09. FRED had not published Thursday’s S&P 500 close at the time of writing; on Wednesday it closed at 7,757.17. On Friday the SEC published its examination priorities for the coming year; read our brief.
Crypto
Bitcoin ended Thursday at $81,225.62 on Coinbase, down from $84,133.56 on Wednesday, and Ether at $2,383.80, down from $2,475.43. In a speech on Thursday evening, FCA chief executive Nikhil Rathi listed decentralised finance and 24/7 trading among the changes testing market integrity; read our brief.
Futures and options
The VIX closed at 19.03, up from 16.68 on Wednesday. The CFTC published no enforcement or rule release on Thursday.
Energy and commodities
FRED’s latest oil and gas prices are for Tuesday 20 October: WTI at $107.89 a barrel, down from $110.01 on Monday, Brent at $115.22, down from $118.82, and Henry Hub natural gas at $3.10, down from $3.28. The EIA reported on Thursday that working gas in storage in the Lower 48 states was 3,644 Bcf on 16 October, a net increase of 77 Bcf on the week, 152 Bcf less than a year earlier and 35 Bcf above the five-year average of 3,609 Bcf.
Metals
There were no official metals releases on Thursday.
Forex
The ECB’s euro reference rate against the dollar was 1.1205, down from 1.1234 on Wednesday. The euro was quoted at 0.8377 pounds, down from 0.83825, and at 175.97 yen, down from 177.36. The 10-year Treasury yield was 4.96%, down from 5.13%, and the 2-year 4.65%, down from 4.81%. 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), 21–22 October 2026
- EIA Weekly Natural Gas Storage Report, week ending 16 October 2026 (released 22 October 2026)
- FCA speech: Market integrity in a digital age, Nikhil Rathi (22 October 2026)
Markets: Stocks · Crypto · Futures & Options · Energy & Commodities · Metals · Forex
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