Friday, September 18, 2026

Wall Street wrapped up a volatile "Triple Witching" Friday with a mixed finish as investors digested flat industrial production data and the Federal Reserve's first rate hike in three years. The tech-heavy Nasdaq led the major averages, adding 0.39% to close at 26,522.545, while the S&P 500 edged up 0.17% to 7,650.5. Conversely, the Dow Jones slipped 0.18% to 51,682.64 and the Russell 2000 dropped 0.50% to 2,860.397. Broad market anxiety cooled despite Fed Chair Kevin Warsh's hawkish tone, sending the VIX plunging 16.37% to 14.81, while Gold climbed 0.42% (4,418.3) and WTI Crude shed 1.91% (95.37).

Sectors in focus

• Financials and Tech shine: Finance Services surged 5.58%, alongside Security Brokers & Dealers (+1.84%), bolstered by the SEC's new five-year 'Innovation Exemption' and Bitcoin crossing $80,000. Computer Storage Devices jumped 4.53% as persistent AI-driven memory shortages and index inclusion news buoyed the space, helping pull Semiconductors (+2.03%) and Special Industry Machinery (+2.23%) higher.
• Defense and Autos lag: Guided Missiles & Space Vehicles fell 2.99% and Aircraft dropped 1.96% after reports highlighted $13.1B in replacement costs for interceptors used in the Middle East. Motor Vehicles & Passenger Car Bodies also struggled, retreating 1.94% on the heels of manufacturing output falling 0.3% in August.

On the radar

• Sep 21: Chicago Fed National Activity Index (Aug) and a speech from Fed's Goolsbee.
• Sep 22–23: Richmond Fed Manufacturing Index, followed by Preliminary S&P Global US Manufacturing and Services PMI (Sep).
• Sep 24–25: Weekly Initial Jobless Claims and August New Home Sales, wrapping up the week with August Durable Goods Orders and the final University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment report.