The S&P 500 closed September 23 2026 down 0.8% at 7,706.05 as the 10-year hit 5.135%, with ten of eleven sectors lower, the Dow at 51,511.59 and the Nasdaq at 26,936.04; the Cboe Volatility Index rose 6.8% to 15.8. Two sessions earlier the index had gained 1.5% to 7,764.70 on September 21 as yields eased and oil fell, with the Nasdaq at a record, and on September 24 it finished at 7,704.23. Other feeds printed the September 23 VIX close at 15.18; both are within a point of the 15 the melt-up-completion leg requires but above it. Levels via WebSearch because Massive index aggregates (I:SPX, I:VIX) are not authorised on the current plan.