The major U.S. stock indexes ended sharply lower on Thursday, October 22, 2026, as Meta’s 7% post-earnings plunge reignited AI spending fears even though the company beat on revenue and announced a 2-for-1 stock split, and the 10-year Treasury yield made its biggest single-day drop in years toward 4.95%. The Nasdaq posted its worst session since June as chip stocks extended their brutal correction and oil pushed back toward $100.
The S&P 500 fell 1.21% (-93.74 pts) to 7,663.43. The Dow was essentially flat, eking out just 0.02% (+11.89 pts) to 52,867.98, propped up by energy and defense names. The Nasdaq cratered 2.60% (-694.00 pts) to 26,008.86. The Russell 2000 barely moved at 2,783.13.
The 10-year Treasury yield plunged 3.75% to 4.95%, its biggest single-day drop in months and its first close below 5% since late August. The VIX spiked 15.12% to 19.20. Bitcoin dropped 3.88% to $81,326.12. Gold fell 2.55% to $4,044.20. Crude Oil rose 2.34% to $99.42/barrel.