Today's Recap · Wednesday, September 23, 2026
Tech surge lifts stocks while oil and yields slide
The Nasdaq jumps 2.3% as megacap tech powers the tape, while crude, Treasury yields, and the VIX all move lower.
The big picture. U.S. stocks finish higher across the board, with the S&P 500 up 1.5%, the Nasdaq up 2.3%, the Dow up 0.7%, and the Russell 2000 up 0.5%. Tech is the clear leader, up 2.9%, while communication services jumps 3.9% and discretionary rises 1.3%. Energy is the laggard, down 2.3%.
The move comes with a softer risk backdrop in volatility and rates. The VIX falls 3.8% to 14.31, while the 10-year Treasury yield slips 0.7% to 4.963% and the 30-year yield drops 0.7% to 5.296%.
Global equities are mixed. Japan’s Nikkei rises 1.4% and South Korea’s Kospi gains 1.0%, but Hong Kong’s Hang Seng falls 0.8% and Europe is mostly lower, with the DAX down 0.7%, the CAC 40 down 0.1%, and the Stoxx 600 off 0.3%.
Crypto is softer even as the asset class stays large, with total market cap at $2.9T. Bitcoin slips 0.7% to $85,554.46, Ethereum falls 1.0% to $2,725.65, and Solana drops 1.2% to $117.06.