Equity Index futures retreat from records amid tech selloff. 4/23/26

Equity markets retreated from record highs today as increased geopolitical rhetoric from the Middle East and rising oil prices put investors on edge. The tech sector faced a significant software selloff, with notable drops in IBM, ServiceNow, Microsoft, Meta, and Palantir. Conversely, Texas Instruments surged nearly 20%, marking its biggest one-day gain in 25 years. Economic data showed stronger-than-expected manufacturing and services activity, alongside a slight uptick in jobless claims to 214,000. Implied volatility rose across equity index futures, yet short-term call activity in E-mini and Nasdaq-100 options remained robust. In the crypto space, Micro Bitcoin futures (MBT) saw over 75,000 contracts traded between April and May expirations as prices pulled back to the 77,800 level. Learn about trading futures and options at CME Group: https://www.cmegroup.com/markets/equities.html #Equities #TechStocks #Bitcoin