VIX rises 3.0 percent at midday as oil and Meta pressure stocks
Published on 10/23/2026 at 19:02 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWSOil and AI pressure
- VIX stood at 19.59 points at 11:45 a.m. ET, up 0.56 points or 2.9 percent.
- Brent crude topped USD 116 as Middle East tensions raised inflation concerns.
- Meta fell 0.5 percent, while Micron rose more than 2 percent in midday trading.
- Baker Hughes publishes its U.S. oil rig count at 1:00 p.m. ET on October 23, 2026.
At 11:45 a.m. ET on October 23, 2026, VIX stood at 19.59 points, up 0.56 points or 2.9 percent from the previous close, Cboe data show. Brent crude topped USD 116 as renewed Middle East tensions lifted inflation concerns, Bloomberg reported.
Since the 19.03-point previous close, VIX has risen 0.56 points or 2.9 percent. Meta fell 0.5 percent in midday trading, while Micron rose more than 2 percent as chip stocks recovered, Nasdaq reported.
Why is VIX higher at midday?
Oil prices kept pressure on stocks after Brent topped USD 116 and West Texas Intermediate crude rose 2.9 percent to USD 102.32. The move came as renewed Middle East violence threatened supply, according to Bloomberg.
Artificial-intelligence spending also remained a market concern. Meta traded lower after investors questioned its funding needs, while chip stocks recovered modestly after Thursday's selloff. The S&P 500 was down 0.45 percent at 12:23 p.m. ET, Nasdaq said.
VIX tracks a defensive stock session
Meta was down 0.5 percent and Tesla had lost more than 1 percent. Micron, Texas Instruments and Advanced Micro Devices gained more than 1 percent, while Crown Castle rose more than 11 percent. Schlumberger gained more than 2 percent after above-consensus earnings, Nasdaq reported.
The broader backdrop stayed unsettled after Thursday's technology-led decline. The 10-year Treasury yield advanced four basis points to 4.99 percent, while the S&P 500 fell 0.2 percent at 10:48 a.m. ET, Bloomberg reported.
What comes next for VIX
- October 23, 2026, 1:00 p.m. ET: Baker Hughes publishes its U.S. oil rig count; the prior total was 459, XTB lists.
- October 26, 2026, before the open: Verizon reports quarterly earnings, with Cadence Design Systems scheduled after the close, FindFin lists.
VIX price data for October 23, 2026
VIX stood at 19.59 points at 11:45 a.m. ET on October 23, 2026, according to Cboe. It was up 0.56 points or 2.9 percent from the previous close of 19.03 points. The index opened at 19.18 points.
VIX by the numbers on October 23, 2026
- Index: VIX
- Home exchange: Cboe, United States
- Level at 11:45 a.m. ET on October 23, 2026: 19.59 points
- Change versus previous close of October 22, 2026: up 0.56 points (up 2.9 percent)
- Previous close: 19.03 points
- Open: 19.18 points
