US Stock Market Today | Thursday, October 22, 2026 | Verified Late-Session Update
The S&P 500 declined on Thursday, October 22, 2026, as renewed concerns about artificial intelligence spending weighed on technology stocks and rising crude oil prices added to uncertainty across global financial markets. The Nasdaq Composite suffered the steepest losses among Wall Street’s three major indexes, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average recorded a comparatively smaller decline.
The selling followed Wednesday’s recovery in AI-related shares, when upbeat corporate forecasts helped lift the Nasdaq by more than 1%. However, the latest quarterly results from Meta Platforms and Tesla shifted attention back toward the financial costs of expanding AI infrastructure and the outlook for future investment returns.
S&P 500, Nasdaq and Dow Jones: Verified Market Levels
The latest independently verified Reuters market snapshot showed all three major US benchmarks in negative territory.
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| US index | Reported level | Change |
|---|---|---|
| S&P 500 | 7,660.02 | -1.25% |
| Nasdaq Composite | 26,111.92 | -2.21% |
| Dow Jones Industrial Average | 52,741.54 | -0.22% |
The S&P 500 had fallen 97.15 points, while the Nasdaq was down 590.94 points. The Dow declined 114.55 points, illustrating the greater selling pressure on technology-heavy benchmarks.
These are Reuters-reported intraday levels for October 22, not official closing prices. The figures have been retained because the index levels, point changes and percentage movements are consistent with the published market report.
Meta Platforms Earnings Intensify AI Spending Concerns
Meta Platforms shares fell more than 5% as investors assessed the company’s third-quarter financial results and plans to establish a new class of non-voting common stock.
Meta reported revenue of $64.60 billion for the quarter ended September 30, 2026, an increase of 26% from the corresponding period a year earlier. Net income reached $9.86 billion, while diluted earnings per share were $3.83.
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The company also reported capital expenditures, including principal payments on finance leases, of $34.91 billion for the quarter. Its full-year 2026 capital expenditure outlook was narrowed to $135 billion–$145 billion, compared with the previous range of $130 billion–$145 billion.
Meta announced plans to establish publicly listed Class C non-voting common stock, with an intended effective date of January 19, 2027. The company also declared a conditional one-time stock dividend associated with the new share class.
The announcement attracted attention as investors assessed Meta’s growing capital commitments and the financial requirements of its artificial intelligence expansion.
Semiconductor Stocks Lead Technology Selling
Semiconductor shares experienced particularly heavy losses during Thursday’s trading. Reuters reported that the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index declined more than 5%, reflecting broad pressure on companies associated with AI computing infrastructure.
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The decline followed a stronger session on Wednesday, when optimism about AI-related earnings had supported technology shares.
Tesla also weakened after reporting earnings and reducing its spending forecast. Its shares were down approximately 0.8% in the verified Reuters market snapshot.
SpaceX declined approximately 5.6% during the same report. The company’s movement coincided with additional scrutiny surrounding public comments by Tesla CEO Elon Musk about a potential combination involving the two businesses.
The broader technology selloff reflected renewed investor uncertainty about the relationship between current earnings, capital expenditure commitments and the longer-term profitability of AI investments.
Oil Prices Rise Following Middle East Developments
Crude oil prices advanced as reports of further Houthi attacks in Saudi Arabia increased concerns about potential disruptions to Middle Eastern energy supplies.
Brent crude rose 2.23% to $111.25 per barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate gained 1.22% to $98.35 per barrel in the verified Reuters snapshot. Brent reached its highest level since May.
The increase in crude prices added to concerns about transportation expenses, manufacturing costs and inflation. Energy-price increases can influence operating expenses across several industries, making crude oil movements relevant to the broader US equity market.
US Treasury Yields Decline Below 5%
US government bond yields fell as investors sought relatively safer assets during the equity market decline.
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The benchmark 10-year Treasury yield dropped 15.17 basis points to 4.994%, compared with 5.146% late Wednesday. It moved below 5% for the first time since September 23.
Because bond prices and yields generally move in opposite directions, the decline was consistent with stronger demand for US government securities.
The movement in Treasury markets occurred alongside rising oil prices, illustrating how concerns about inflation and financial-market risk were affecting different asset classes simultaneously.
Global Stocks and Bitcoin Decline
Selling pressure extended beyond the United States. The MSCI All-World Index declined 1.34% to 1,122.61, while Europe’s STOXX 600 fell 1.01%.
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Technology shares in several Asian and European markets also weakened, indicating that concerns about artificial intelligence spending were affecting international equities.
Bitcoin fell 3.20% to $81,929 during the reported market update. The Japanese yen strengthened 0.51% to 157.33 per US dollar, consistent with increased demand for assets traditionally viewed as relatively defensive during periods of market uncertainty.
S&P 500 Today: Late-Session Summary
Thursday’s market decline reflected renewed concerns about the scale of artificial intelligence investments, the financial outlook for major technology companies and rising energy prices.
The S&P 500 fell 1.25% in the verified intraday snapshot, while the Nasdaq declined 2.21%. The Dow’s smaller 0.22% decline showed that technology-heavy benchmarks faced greater selling pressure.
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Meta’s quarterly results and capital expenditure plans were central to the market reaction, while weakness in semiconductor shares added to the decline. Higher crude oil prices and falling Treasury yields reflected broader uncertainty across financial markets.
The figures in this article are verified reported intraday readings for October 22, 2026. They are not official closing prices and may differ from subsequent market quotations.
Disclaimer
This article is published by Onetrader for educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute investment advice, financial recommendations, or an invitation to buy or sell securities. Stock market investments involve risks, and market prices, economic indicators and financial information may change after publication. Readers should independently evaluate financial information and consult qualified financial professionals where appropriate before making investment decisions.
Onetrader is not registered with SEBI as an investment adviser or research analyst.
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