The Nasdaq fell as Intel guidance hit chip stocks today. As flagged in this morning's analysis, as of 20:00 UTC those Nasdaq and S&P 500 prints remain intraday, with US cash still open until 16:00 New York (20:00 UTC). The contained-open scenario this morning flagged did not hold for chips: Intel extended the after-hours drop in cash, while Amazon's cash fade was smaller than the after-hours print.
The Close: Nasdaq Leads Indexes Lower While Cash Remains Open
The Nasdaq Composite last printed about 25,307, down 3.35 percent from Thursday's 26,184.72 (MarketScreener 25,306.79 at 15:12 EDT; Nasdaq OMX 25,287.36, 0.08 percent apart). Range 25,177 to 25,673. The S&P 500 last printed about 7,552, down 2.18 percent from Thursday's 7,720.39 (MetaCap 7,552.00 at 15:31 EDT; Yahoo 7,554.21 at 15:24 EDT, 0.03 percent apart). Range 7,527.56 to 7,637.48. This morning's bullish reclaim at 7,720.39 was not taken (session high 7,637.48). The morning bearish reference at 7,665.25 was taken on the cash low at 7,527.56. October 6's 7,818.93 record close remains unrepaired. The Dow last printed about 51,680, down 1.26 percent. The VIX last printed about 22, up about 27 percent, labeled intraday. The Employment Cost Index rose 0.8 percent in the third quarter, in line with the print this morning flagged (BLS). The hot-wage scenario did not play. Euro area flash GDP rose 0.4 percent against about 0.2 percent seen (Eurostat). S&P bullish trigger: a reclaim of Thursday's 7,720.39, then 7,732.21. Bearish trigger: a fade through the session low at 7,527.56.
- Nasdaq about 25,307 (-3.35%), labeled intraday; S&P about 7,552 (-2.18%)
- Morning bearish 7,665.25 taken (low 7,527.56); 7,720.39 and Oct 6 record 7,818.93 unrepaired
- ECI +0.8% in line; euro area GDP +0.4%
- S&P bullish trigger: reclaim 7,720.39 then 7,732.21; bearish: 7,527.56
Story of the Day: Intel Guidance Extends the Chip Rout
Intel last sat about 30 percent lower in cash, extending the about 16 to 23 percent after-hours drop this morning flagged, on pace for its worst session since 1974 (Reuters, CNBC, Yahoo Finance). Fourth-quarter sales were guided to 15 to 16 billion dollars against about 17 billion, with PC demand and a factory shutdown in Israel cited as the drag. Amazon last sat about 2 percent lower in cash, a smaller fade than the about 5 to 7 percent after-hours print. Third-quarter sales of 201.9 billion dollars missed about 202.2 billion, while Amazon Web Services rose 39.3 percent to 46.0 billion dollars. The spender split this morning flagged played out in cash: Amazon contained, Intel and the chip complex did not. Scenarios to watch: a closing auction that extends the chip fade into the weekend, or a contained finish if the Nasdaq holds the session low. None of this is a recommendation.
- Intel about -30% in cash, extending the after-hours drop; Q4 sales guided $15B to $16B against about $17B
- Amazon about -2% in cash after sales $201.9B against about $202.2B; AWS $46.0B (+39.3%)
- Nasdaq did not contain; chips led the fade while Amazon's cash move was smaller than after hours
Gold Slides Toward a Yearly Low
Spot gold last printed about 3,878 dollars (TradingView 3,877.91 as of October 30; goldoilprice 3,877.30 at 19:35 UTC, down 3.54 percent). Kitco sat at 3,879.40 at 15:26 EDT, range 3,875.10 to 4,027.30. This morning last printed about 4,005. The morning bearish reference at 3,988 was taken. The move clears the 2 percent bar and sits near a one-year low (Kitco). Gold bullish trigger: a reclaim of 3,988, then this morning's 4,005. Bearish trigger: a slip through the session low at 3,875.
- Gold about $3,878 against this morning about $4,005, down about 3.5 percent
- Morning bearish $3,988 taken; Kitco range $3,875 to $4,027
- Gold bullish trigger: reclaim $3,988 then $4,005; bearish: $3,875
Crypto Check: Bitcoin Holds Under 77,000
Bitcoin last printed about 76,731 dollars (TradingView). goldoilprice sat at 76,344, 0.51 percent apart. This morning last printed about 78,435. The morning bearish reference at 77,000 was taken, with session lows near 76,300 after the Binance incident this morning flagged. Binance said about 6.3 billion dollars of digital assets were impacted. Ether last printed about 2,230 dollars (TradingView 2,229.6; GoldPrice.com 2,224). Prints labeled intraday; crypto's daily candle closes at 00:00 UTC. Bitcoin bullish trigger: a reclaim of 77,000, then this morning's 78,435. Bearish trigger: a slip through the session low near 76,300.
- Bitcoin about $76,731 against this morning about $78,435; $77,000 taken
- Ether about $2,230; prints labeled intraday
- Bitcoin bullish trigger: reclaim $77,000 then $78,435; bearish: $76,300
After-Hours and Overnight Watch
US cash still has the closing auction as of 20:00 UTC. West Texas Intermediate last printed about 104.54 dollars (oilpriceapi at 19:16 UTC; Yahoo 104.28, 0.25 percent apart), against this morning about 103.39. Session range 102.43 to 104.99. The high at 104.99 takes the morning reference at 103.55; crude is holding near that high. Brent last printed about 112.90 dollars. Oil bullish trigger: a hold through 104.99. Bearish trigger: a slip through 102.43, then Thursday's 99.79 low. No US cash session over the weekend. Docket: the calendar and the week ahead. Scenarios to watch: a Friday auction that leaves the Nasdaq near the session low into next week, or a bounce if chip selling cools into the close.
- WTI about $104.54 against this morning about $103.39; high $104.99
- Cash still open until 20:00 UTC; no US cash session over the weekend
- Oil bullish trigger: hold $104.99; bearish: $102.43 then $99.79
For live prices see the ThriveInMarkets homepage. None of the above is a recommendation to buy or sell any asset. Index prints are intraday as of 20:00 UTC Friday, October 30, 2026.
