Wall Street Plunges In Deepest One-Day Sell-Off Since 2025 As Tech Rout Drives Market Loss

ISTANBUL, Nov 6 – US stock markets suffered their steepest single-day decline in 19 months on Thursday, November 5, 2026, driven down by a massive sell-off in technology shares and growing investor skepticism over artificial intelligence returns.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite dropped 5.52 per cent, or 1,421.52 points, to close at 24,315.00.

The S&P 500 sank 4.35 per cent, or 334.82 points, to 7,353.80, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 1,834.84 points, or 3.44 per cent, to finish at 51,521.28.

Reflecting intense market anxiety, the CBOE Volatility Index (VIX)—widely known as Wall Street’s “fear index”—surged 61.89 per cent to 26.89.

The widespread retreat represents the deepest single-day plunge for major US benchmarks since April 2025, when sweeping tariff announcements under US President Donald Trump triggered broad financial market volatility.

Selling pressure accelerated as market participants reassessed high valuations across megacap technology firms following recent corporate updates. Investors questioned whether massive capital expenditures on AI infrastructure would deliver proportional profitability in the near term. elevated Treasury bond yields further weighed on risk sentiment by raising corporate borrowing costs and offering competitive risk-free returns.

Despite the equity turmoil, US economic data released Thursday showed labor market resilience, with initial jobless claims dropping by 6,000 to 189,000 for the week—beating market expectations.

Commodity and energy markets also adjusted following early results from the US midterm elections. Brent crude oil traded around US$98.40 per barrel by 2100 GMT, easing from earlier weekly highs above US$110. Safe-haven assets attracted capital, lifting spot gold prices by 0.6 per cent to US$4,080 per ounce.

European equities finished mostly lower:

• Stoxx Europe 600: Eased 0.38 per cent to 654.87.
• FTSE 100 (UK): Declined 0.43 per cent to 10,782.66.
• DAX 40 (Germany): Dropped 0.43 per cent to 26,325.01.
• FTSE MIB (Italy): Fell 1.03 per cent to 50,505.87.
• CAC 40 (France): Gained 0.34 per cent to 8,205.37.
• IBEX 35 (Spain): Advanced 0.59 per cent to 19,486.00.

Index Performance, Market Drivers, and Commodity Indicators

Key index movements, volatility surges, and macroeconomic indicators include:

• US Index Returns: Nasdaq Composite (-5.52% to 24,315.00); S&P 500 (-4.35% to 7,353.80); Dow Jones (-3.44% to 51,521.28).
• Fear Index (VIX): Jumped +61.89% to 26.89.
• Primary Sell-off Catalyst: Tech valuation reset, AI capital expenditure profitability doubts, and persistent Treasury yield pressure.
• US Labor Data: First-time unemployment claims dropped to 189,000 (down 6,000).
• Commodities & Metals: Brent crude eased to US$98.40/barrel; Gold rose +0.6% to US$4,080/oz.

–NMT