Markets

Market Pulse

Midday Edition · Friday, July 17, 2026

Nasdaq 100 drops 1.24% as tech selloff drives investors into gold and bonds Crude oil is the session's outlier, surging 4.63% while Fear & Greed sits at 38.


The Daily Digest

  1. 01Nasdaq 100 leads equities lower, down 1.24% as tech selling pressures the broader market
  2. 02S&P 500 off 0.93% at midday with financials and tech dragging — energy the lone bright spot
  3. 03Crude oil surges 4.63% on USO basis, biggest mover of the session
  4. 04Energy sector up 1.05% — only sector in the green as oil spike lifts the group
  5. 05GLD ETF gains 0.86% as safe-haven demand builds alongside equity weakness
  6. 06Long-dated Treasuries catch a bid, TLT up 0.46% — investors rotating toward safety
  7. 07Dollar firms slightly, DXY +0.26% to 100.78 as GBP/USD slides 0.54% to 1.3437
  8. 08Ethereum drops 2.16% to $1,834 — underperforming broader crypto in the risk-off tone
  9. 09Bitcoin holds near $63,865, down just 0.55% — relative stability versus altcoins
  10. 10CNN Fear & Greed Index sits at 38 — Fear territory, consistent with today's defensive rotation

Top Movers

Gainers

OILCrude Oil+4.63%
ADACardano+1.52%
XLEEnergy+1.05%
GOLDGold+0.86%
NATGASNatural Gas+0.67%

Losers

ETHEthereum-2.16%
NDXNasdaq 100-1.24%
SOLSolana-1.05%
TBTShort 20Y-0.95%
SPXS&P 500-0.93%

What If?

If you had put $1,000 into Crude Oil yesterday, you'd have $1,046.30 today.


The Big Picture

Tech is selling off and investors are moving to safety. The Nasdaq 100 is down 1.24% at midday, dragging the S&P 500 down 0.93% with it. Financials are adding to the pressure. The CNN Fear & Greed Index sits at 38 — squarely in Fear territory — and the money flows confirm it: long-dated Treasuries are catching a bid (TLT +0.46%) and gold is up 0.86%, both classic moves when risk appetite dries up. The one exception to the defensive tone is oil. Crude is surging 4.63% — the biggest move in the session — lifting energy stocks 1.05% and making XLE the only sector in the green. That's a supply-side story running on its own track, not a sign of broad confidence. Crypto is mostly following equities lower, with Ethereum off 2.16% to $1,834 underperforming Bitcoin, which is holding relatively steady near $63,865. Watch whether tech finds a floor into the close. If bonds keep rallying and gold holds its gains, this rotation has legs — and the afternoon session will tell us whether this is a one-day flush or something stickier. This is not financial advice. Acid Capitalist is a financial news and commentary site — not a registered financial adviser. Always do your own research.

Fear & Greed Index

38Fear
0255075100

Market Overview

Indices
S&P 500743.77-0.93%
Nasdaq 100697.17-1.24%
Dow Jones521.36-0.66%
Russell 2000293.86-0.59%
Crypto
Bitcoin63,865.00-0.55%
Cardano0.17+1.52%
Ethereum1,834.69-2.16%
XRP1.09-0.42%
Solana75.00-1.05%
Commodities
Natural Gas10.49+0.67%
Silver50.69+0.60%
Gold368.09+0.86%
Crude Oil124.82+4.63%
Bonds & Rates
20Y Treasury84.60%+0.46%
1-3Y Treasury82.03%+0.04%
Short 20Y36.31%-0.95%
Forex
EUR/USD1.14-0.28%
USD/JPY162.35+0.09%
GBP/USD1.34-0.54%
Dollar Index100.78+0.26%
Sectors
Energy57.62+1.05%
Technology176.15-0.77%
Healthcare161.22-0.36%
Utilities45.15-0.70%
Financials56.27-0.85%
Volatility
VIX21.66+5.35%