As of about 9:00 AM IST, Saturday 31 October 2026. Figures are Friday 30 October closing levels as reported by Reuters and other outlets; US markets reopen on Monday 2 November.
Wall Street ended October on a sour note. The Nasdaq Composite fell 2.86% on Friday, dragged down by a record plunge in Intel, and finished the month with its worst performance since March 2025. Oil climbed to a six-month high on Iran war fears, while Treasury yields fell as investors looked for safety.
Friday's close
| Index | Close | Change |
|---|---|---|
| S&P 500 | 7,580.07 | -1.82% |
| Nasdaq Composite | 25,437.00 | -2.86% |
| Dow Jones Industrial Average | 51,770.31 | -572.25 (-1.09%) |
| Russell 2000 | - | -1.66% |
| Nasdaq 100 | - | -3.46% |
It was the S&P 500's worst day since June and its third straight weekly loss. The Nasdaq 100 is close to correction territory. Elsewhere, MSCI's world index fell 1.51% to 1,115.47 and Europe's STOXX 600 slipped 0.36%.
October scorecard
- Nasdaq Composite: -5.30%, its worst month since March 2025, leaving it 7.8% below its record close.
- Nasdaq 100: -6.65%.
- S&P 500: -0.93%.
- Dow: +1.70%.
- Russell 2000: +0.53%.
What drove the sell-off
Chips: Intel fell 28.6% after a weak fourth-quarter forecast and a warning that the PC slowdown will last at least into next year. The Philadelphia semiconductor index dropped more than 7%, and AMD lost 10.9%.
Banks and crypto: Goldman Sachs fell 4% and Jefferies 6%. Bitcoin slid about 3%.
Oil: Brent crude settled at $117.64 a barrel, up 2.4%, its highest close since late April, and gained 13.6% in October. US WTI settled at $104.12 and rose 15.2% for the month, as attacks on tankers around the Strait of Hormuz continued and reports suggested new US strikes on Iran could follow the 3 November midterms.
Bonds: the 10-year Treasury yield fell 5.8 basis points to 4.931%. That capped its biggest monthly drop in nearly three years. The 30-year yield stood at 5.3093%.
What to watch next week
- The US midterm elections on Tuesday 3 November, and any move on Iran around them.
- Whether the US-Iran talks mediated by Qatar in Doha produce a framework, which could cool oil prices.
- Earnings from AMD, which reports next week, after this week's chip sell-off.
Disclaimer: This article is for information only and is not financial or investment advice. Markets are volatile; do your own research or consult a qualified adviser before making investment decisions.
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