Major stock ETFs finished higher on October 21, with QQQ leading at 1.05%. DIA gained 0.64%, SPY rose 0.53%, and IWM added 0.25%. VIX fell 3.64% to 16.68. SPY calls topped the options orders, while headlines highlighted Meta’s AI plans and strong data center revenue growth at Texas Instruments.
Market snapshot
SPY: $773.09, up 0.53%.
QQQ: $725.20, up 1.05%, the strongest gain among these four stock ETFs.
DIA: $527.70, up 0.64%.
IWM: $276.48, up 0.25%.
VIX: 16.68, down 3.64%.
Biggest options orders
SPY: $720 call expiring December 31, 2026 — $2.5M premium.
AVGO: $370 call expiring June 17, 2027 — $2.3M premium.
TSLA: $480 call expiring January 21, 2028 — $1.9M premium.
SMH: $620 put expiring June 17, 2027 — $1.9M premium.
SPY: Another $720 call expiring December 31, 2026 — $1.7M premium.
SKHY: $130 call expiring January 15, 2027 — $1.6M premium.
CSCO: $115 call expiring November 20, 2026 — $1.5M premium.
NVDA: $190 put expiring March 19, 2027 — $1.5M premium.
Premium measures an order’s dollar size; calls and puts alone do not establish a trader’s overall position or intent.
Headlines to watch
META: Tradex reported that CEO Mark Zuckerberg said smaller AI models are coming soon, with a focus on greater efficiency. He also said Muse AI could potentially generate more revenue per user than Meta’s family of apps.
Texas Instruments: According to a conference-call report from Tradex, third-quarter data center revenue rose about 95% year over year and about 20% sequentially. Discrete tax items reduced EPS by one cent beyond the original guidance. Quarter-end inventory reached $4.7 billion, up $67 million from the previous quarter.
Mattel: The company entered a cooperation agreement with EdgePoint Investment Group, according to Business Wire.
Iran: Tradex, citing Fars News, reported that Iran threatened U.S. political targets if strikes resume.
Harvey: Blockchain News reported the launch of a Connector Library linking legal workflow tools and sources to Harvey’s AI workspace, with write-back capability.
What to watch next
Earnings calendar: CPI plans to report third-quarter earnings on November 4, 2026, according to Business Wire.
Options calendar: The CSCO $115 call expires November 20, 2026; both SPY $720 call orders expire December 31, 2026.
META: Watch for the smaller-model releases Zuckerberg said are coming soon and further details on Muse AI’s revenue potential.
Educational only, not financial advice.
Questions about today
How did the major stock ETFs finish on October 21, 2026?
QQQ rose 1.05% to $725.20, DIA gained 0.64% to $527.70, SPY advanced 0.53% to $773.09, and IWM added 0.25% to $276.48.
What happened to VIX during the session?
VIX fell 3.64% to 16.68.
Which options order had the largest premium?
The largest order was a SPY $720 call expiring December 31, 2026, with a rounded premium of $2.5M. A separate order in the same strike and expiration carried a $1.7M premium.