Markets
Market Pulse
Post-Close Edition · Wednesday, October 21, 2026
Tech lifts Nasdaq 100 up 1.05% as the technology sector jumps 1.67% Bitcoin climbs 2.31% to $84,633, but CNN's Fear and Greed Index still reads 31.
The Daily Digest
- 01Technology sector up 1.67%, the clear leader of the session
- 02Nasdaq 100 up 1.05% as tech does the lifting
- 03S&P 500 up 0.53%, gains broad but modest
- 04Dow Jones up 0.64% with financials adding 0.57%
- 05Russell 2000 up just 0.25%, small caps lag the rally
- 06Healthcare down 0.49%, the only sector in the red
- 07Natural gas slides 5.05%, the biggest move on the board
- 08Bitcoin up 2.31% to $84,633 as risk appetite returns
- 09XRP +4.08% to $1.39 leads crypto, Ethereum +2.02% to $2,492.80
- 10Dollar index slips 0.19% to 101.65 as GBP/USD climbs 0.41% to $1.3402
- 11Fear and Greed Index at 31, still in Fear territory per CNN
Top Movers
What If?
If you had put $1,000 into XRP yesterday, you'd have $1,040.80 today.
The Big Picture
Tech did the heavy lifting. The technology sector rose 1.67% while the S&P 500 added 0.53%, and that gap explains the Nasdaq 100's 1.05% gain. Healthcare fell 0.49%, the only sector lower on the session. Risk appetite showed up elsewhere too. Bitcoin rose 2.31% to $84,633, XRP jumped 4.08%, and the dollar index slipped 0.19% to 101.65 as the pound gained 0.41%. Long bonds barely moved, with TLT up 0.14%. Natural gas broke ranks, down 5.05%. The tension: small caps gained just 0.25% and CNN's Fear and Greed Index sits at 31, still in Fear. A rally this narrow leans on one sector staying bid. Watch whether tech's lead holds or the Russell 2000 catches up.Fear & Greed Index
31Fear
0255075100
Market Overview
| Indices | ||
| Nasdaq 100 | 725.20 | +1.05% |
| Russell 2000 | 276.48 | +0.25% |
| S&P 500 | 773.09 | +0.53% |
| Dow Jones | 527.70 | +0.64% |
| Crypto | ||
| Bitcoin | 84,633.00 | +2.31% |
| Ethereum | 2,492.80 | +2.02% |
| Solana | 108.17 | +1.55% |
| XRP | 1.39 | +4.08% |
| Cardano | 0.23 | +2.40% |
| Commodities | ||
| Crude Oil | 159.80 | -0.50% |
| Gold | 378.95 | +0.34% |
| Silver | 52.26 | +0.27% |
| Natural Gas | 9.97 | -5.05% |
| Bonds & Rates | ||
| Short 20Y | 39.82% | -0.08% |
| 20Y Treasury | 80.24% | +0.14% |
| 1-3Y Treasury | 81.29% | -0.01% |
| Forex | ||
| EUR/USD | 1.12 | +0.17% |
| USD/JPY | 157.88 | -0.16% |
| GBP/USD | 1.34 | +0.41% |
| Dollar Index | 101.65 | -0.19% |
| Sectors | ||
| Financials | 56.04 | +0.57% |
| Energy | 68.16 | +0.28% |
| Utilities | 42.00 | +0.29% |
| Healthcare | 178.94 | -0.49% |
| Technology | 188.54 | +1.67% |
| Volatility | ||
| VIX | 16.65 | -1.25% |