Wall Street ended Thursday, October 15, higher after a shaky start. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, which tracks 30 large US companies, jumped 556 points, or 1.1%, to 52,177.69. The S&P 500, the broad measure of the 500 biggest US companies, rose 0.3% to 7,744.06. The tech-heavy Nasdaq edged up 0.1% to 26,713.03. Stocks opened lower because of a global sell-off in chip and artificial intelligence (AI) stocks. South Korea’s market fell about 7% overnight, and investors are increasingly worried that some AI companies, such as CoreWeave, have borrowed heavily to build data centers just as borrowing costs are rising. Chip stocks fell for an eighth straight day before cutting their losses later in the session. The day’s biggest economic story was inflation. A day after a hotter-than-expected consumer price report (inflation reached 3.7% from a year earlier), the Producer Price Index, which tracks the prices businesses charge each other (often called “wholesale inflation”), jumped 1.3% in September, its biggest monthly rise since 2022. That raised fears that the Federal Reserve, the US central bank, might raise interest rates again. Even so, US Treasury yields (the interest rate the US government pays to borrow) fell sharply. The 10-year yield dropped to about 5.05% from above 5.3% the day before, and investors moved money into “defensive” areas like healthcare, which hit a record high, and consumer staples, along with retailers and homebuilders. Traders still see roughly a 71% chance the Fed keeps rates unchanged at its October meeting.
Daily Digest ·
Wall Street ended Thursday, October 15, higher after a shaky start.
What moved Wall Street and the PSEi, and what it means for your money, in plain language.
Today, in Two Lines
The day’s biggest story in each market.
Wall Street ended Thursday, October 15, higher after a shaky start.
Philippine stocks bounced back on Thursday after two straight days of losses.
US & PH Markets at Last Close
Where each market finished its most recent trading session before this issue went out.
US markets
| S&P 500 | 7,744.06 +0.33% |
| Dow Jones | 52,177.69 +1.08% |
| Nasdaq | 26,713.03 +0.08% |
| 10-Yr Treasury Yield | 5.09% |
Philippine markets
| PSEi | 5,663.17 +0.82% |
| USD/PHP | 63.02 +0.36% |
| BSP Rate | 5.00% |
Winners & Losers
The stocks that moved most, and why.
USUnited States
- PAG Penske Automotive Group+8.4%
Agreed to be taken private by Penske Corp. and Mitsui for $212 per share in cash
- MAN ManpowerGroup-15.2%
Revenue missed estimates, Q4 profit forecast came in below expectations, and it named a new CEO (late-session figure)
- RKLB Rocket Lab-6.6%
Delayed the first launch of its larger Neutron rocket to 2027 because of manufacturing defects
- NKE Nike+5.0%
Rose more than 5% as beaten-down retail and apparel stocks rebounded; among the top S&P 500 and Dow performers (exact close unconfirmed)
PHPhilippines
- SMPH SM Prime Holdings+5.6%
Best performer in the index at ₱16.68 as investors bought property stocks
- MYNLD Maynilad Water Services-3.0%
Biggest index decliner, falling to ₱16.30
- ICT International Container Terminal Services+0.7%
Most actively traded stock, closing at ₱820.50 after a heavy sell-off the previous day
Today’s Full Story
USUnited States
PHPhilippines
Philippine stocks bounced back on Thursday after two straight days of losses. The PSEi, the index of the 30 biggest companies on the Philippine Stock Exchange, rose 0.82% to 5,663.17, and the broader All Shares index gained 0.5%. Analysts said investors went bargain hunting after the index touched 5,600, a level traders treat as a “support” where buyers tend to step in. Foreign investors were net buyers, purchasing about ₱140.5 million more than they sold. Property stocks led the gains, up 1.89%, while mining and oil stocks fell the most, down 2.47%. Trading stayed light, and port operator ICTSI alone accounted for nearly half of the day’s turnover. The bigger story was the peso. It closed at a record low of ₱63.06 per US dollar, crossing ₱63 for the first time and touching ₱63.15 during the day. Brokers said the weak peso kept investors cautious despite the rebound and expect the market to stay wary as people watch the currency, oil prices, and the wider economy. Inflation, which has stayed high this year, remains a key concern.
US–PHHow US news affects the Philippines
What happens in the US directly affected Filipinos this week. Hot US inflation numbers raised the odds that the Federal Reserve keeps interest rates high, or even raises them further. When US rates are high, investors prefer holding US dollars, which makes the dollar strong against currencies like the peso. Oil prices above $100 a barrel make things worse for the Philippines because we import most of our fuel and must pay for it in dollars. That combination pushed the peso past ₱63 for the first time, even though the dollar weakened slightly against other major currencies on Thursday. A weak peso cuts both ways. Families receiving remittances from OFWs get more pesos for every dollar sent home, which is a real boost. But imported goods such as fuel, food, and raw materials become more expensive, which can push inflation higher for everyone. Philippine stocks did get some relief from falling US Treasury yields overnight, according to COL Financial. The next big tests are the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) policy meeting on October 22 and the Fed’s decision later this month. Both will shape where the peso, borrowing costs, and local stocks go next.
Sa Taglish
Grabe, ramdam talaga natin ngayong linggo kung ano’ng nangyayari sa US. Lumabas na mas mataas pa sa inaasahan ang inflation doon, kaya lumaki ang chance na hindi muna magbababa ng interest rates ang Fed, baka nga magtaas pa ulit. Pag mataas ang interest rates sa US, mas gusto ng mga investor humawak ng US dollars, kaya lumalakas ang dollar at humihina ang piso. Dagdag pa na lampas $100 kada barrel ang langis, at halos lahat ng fuel natin imported at binabayaran in dollars. Kaya ayun, lumampas na sa ₱63 ang palitan for the first time ever, kahit medyo humina pa nga ang dollar kontra sa ibang major currencies noong Thursday. Pero may dalawang mukha ‘to. Kung may OFW kayo sa pamilya, mas maraming piso ang natatanggap ninyo sa bawat dollar na pinapadala, kaya panalo ‘yon. Ang catch, mas mahal ang lahat ng imported tulad ng gasolina, pagkain, at raw materials, kaya puwedeng tumaas pa ang presyo ng bilihin para sa lahat. Medyo nakahinga naman ang PSE dahil bumaba ang US Treasury yields overnight, sabi ng COL Financial. Ang abangan natin: ang BSP meeting sa October 22 at ang desisyon ng Fed later this month. Doon malalaman kung saan papunta ang piso, ang interest rates, at ang stocks natin.
USD/PHP
Biggest mover: Russell 2000 +1.38%
What to Watch
- The BSP’s Monetary Board meets on October 22, so watch whether it raises rates again to support the peso and fight inflation.
- The Fed’s October meeting is the next major test, since traders still mostly expect a hold despite this week’s hot inflation reports.
- Watch whether the peso stays above ₱63 and whether the global AI and chip-stock sell-off settles down or spreads further.
Sources
The original reporting behind this issue.
US markets
- How major US stock indexes fared Thursday 10/15/2026
US indexes recovered from a rough morning to close higher, with the Dow gaining 1.1% and the S&P 500 moving closer to last week’s record.
- Market Review: October 15, 2026
Stocks shrugged off overnight tech weakness despite back-to-back hot inflation reports that raised the possibility of Fed rate hikes.
- Stock market today: S&P 500, Nasdaq futures slip as semiconductor sell-off continues
Futures were mixed before the open as investors weighed new inflation data against growing worries about AI-related debt and falling chip stocks.
- Stock Market News for Oct 15, 2026
Wall Street fell on Wednesday, led by tech, as worries about inflation, interest rates, and high tech valuations hurt investor confidence.
- Rocket Lab stock tumbles as effort to take market share from SpaceX slips to 2027
Rocket Lab shares fell sharply after the company pushed the first launch of its Neutron rocket into next year.
- ManpowerGroup Picks New CEO to Lead Its AI Transformation
The staffing company’s shares dropped after mixed third-quarter results, with revenue slightly below Wall Street forecasts.
- Crude Oil Moves Higher; Charles Schwab Shares Fall After Q3 Results
A midday market roundup covering oil, the latest producer price data, and big single-stock moves including Penske Automotive.
- Stocks making the biggest moves midday: CoreWeave, Salesforce, Rocket Lab, Kimberly-Clark & more
A rundown of Thursday’s notable movers, including AI infrastructure stocks still sliding on debt concerns.
PH markets
- PSEi rebounds to 5,663 on bargain hunting
Philippine stocks recovered after two losing sessions as bargain hunters and foreign buyers returned.
- PSEi snaps two-day slide after holding 5,600 support
The PSEi climbed on bargain hunting after two days of sharp declines, though investors remained cautious.
- Bargain hunting lifts stocks despite peso woes
Local shares rebounded as investors bought cheaper stocks, but the peso’s slide to ₱63 weighed on sentiment.
- PSE Index Rises 0.82% on Bargain Hunting as ICTSI Leads Trading
The index rose on selective buying of blue chips, with ICTSI making up a large share of the day’s trading value.
- Peso hits record-low close of P63.06 as stocks rebound
The peso closed at a record ₱63.06 per dollar, breaking past ₱63 for the first time as the Middle East conflict kept pressure on the currency.
Cross US–PH
- Peso hits new low, retreats to 63-per-dollar
The peso weakened past ₱63 for the first time even as the US dollar eased from an 18-month high after hot US inflation data.
- Peso breaches P63 per dollar for first time
The peso broke through ₱63 per dollar for the first time, raising concerns about pricier imports and higher living costs.
- Market Review: October 15, 2026
Treasury yields and the dollar fell despite hot producer price data, and traders still mostly expect the Fed to hold rates in October.
- Bargain hunting lifts stocks despite peso woes
Analysts said lower US Treasury yields overnight may have helped Philippine stocks recover.
- BSP Rate Hike 2026: What the 5.0% Rate Means for OFW Money
An explainer on the BSP’s August hike to 5.0% and what it means for OFW households, noting the next policy meeting on October 22.
Terms to know
- Stock
- A tiny piece of ownership in a company. Buying a company's stock means you own a small part of that business.
- Stock market
- The overall marketplace where stocks are bought and sold. When we say 'the market' or show numbers like the S&P 500 or PSEi, we mean a snapshot of how stocks overall are doing that day.
- Interest rate
- The cost of borrowing money, or what you earn for saving it. When rates go up, loans get pricier, but savings can earn a bit more.
- Inflation (CPI)
- When everyday prices rise over time, so the same money buys less than before. CPI is the number used to measure it.
- Fed (Federal Reserve)
- The US central bank. It sets interest rates, which affect how expensive it is to borrow money, even here in the Philippines.
- BSP (Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas)
- The Philippine central bank, PH's equivalent of the Fed.
- PSEi
- A single number that tracks how the Philippines' biggest company stocks are doing overall, like a report card for the PH stock market.
- bps (basis points)
- A small unit for measuring interest rate changes: 100 bps = 1%. Used because rate changes are usually tiny.
- 10-Yr Yield
- The interest rate the US government pays to borrow money long-term. When it rises, loans and mortgages tend to get pricier everywhere, not just in the US.
- USD/PHP
- How many pesos it takes to buy one US dollar.
- OFW remittances
- Money sent home by overseas Filipino workers, a key driver of peso demand.
Summaries, mover explanations, and forward-looking notes in this issue are AI-written from real market data and sourced news. Not financial advice.