Markets digest, 23 October 2026: Dow and Nasdaq fall as the euro eases against the dollar
The Dow closed at 52,215.16 and the Nasdaq Composite at 25,955.340. Bitcoin slipped to $81,026.70 and the ECB's euro reference rate fell to 1.1193 dollars.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average and the Nasdaq Composite both closed lower on Friday 23 October. Bitcoin and Ether edged down, and the euro eased against the dollar, the pound and the yen.
Stocks
The Nasdaq Composite closed at 25,955.340, down from 26,008.860 on Thursday, and the Dow at 52,215.16, down from 52,867.98. FRED had not published the S&P 500 closes for Thursday or Friday at the time of writing; its latest is 7,757.17 on Wednesday 21 October. On Friday the SEC published its examination priorities for fiscal 2027; read our brief.
Crypto
Bitcoin ended Friday at $81,026.70 on Coinbase, down from $81,225.62 on Thursday. Ether was almost unchanged at $2,383.30, against $2,383.80.
Futures and options
FRED had not published Friday’s VIX close at the time of writing; on Thursday it closed at 19.03. The CFTC’s Commitments of Traders report released on Friday, with positions as of 20 October, shows leveraged funds holding 105,741 short VIX futures contracts, up 18,259 from 13 October, with total open interest of 433,778 contracts.
Energy and commodities
FRED’s latest oil and gas prices are still 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.
Metals
In the same Commitments of Traders report, managed money held 120,970 long COMEX gold futures contracts on 20 October, down 3,777 on the week, and 16,764 short contracts, down 894. Open interest in COMEX gold futures was 402,279 contracts. There were no LBMA or World Gold Council releases on Friday.
Forex
The ECB’s euro reference rate against the dollar was 1.1193, down from 1.1205 on Thursday. The euro was quoted at 0.83728 pounds, down from 0.8377, and at 175.51 yen, down from 175.97. On Friday the ECB’s consumer survey showed median expectations for euro area inflation over the next 12 months rising to 3.1%; read our brief. For when each currency centre is open, see our guide to FX trading sessions and liquidity.
On the calendar
The Federal Open Market Committee meets on 27 and 28 October. The ECB’s Governing Council holds its monetary policy meeting on 28 and 29 October in Frankfurt, with a press conference after the second day.
- 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)
- ECB euro foreign exchange reference rates (USD, GBP, JPY), 22–23 October 2026
- CFTC Commitments of Traders: Traders in Financial Futures, futures only, positions as of 20 October 2026
- CFTC Commitments of Traders: Disaggregated, metals and other, futures only, positions as of 20 October 2026
- ECB press release: ECB Consumer Expectations Survey results – September 2026 (23 October 2026)
- Federal Reserve: FOMC meeting calendars
- ECB: Meetings of the Governing Council and related press conferences
Markets: Stocks · Crypto · Futures & Options · Energy & Commodities · Metals · Forex
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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.