What Happened Today, Thursday August 13, 2026, 5:00 PM ET close
S&P 500 Hits a Fresh High While the Nasdaq Leads a 1.2% Advance
Nasdaq 100 up 1.21%, S&P 500 up 0.70% to a new high, as strategists flagged one of the bull market's biggest rotations.
ES and NQ at the close
NQ, Nasdaq 100 futures
30,214.25
+1.21% on the day
Day range 29,780.50 to 30,272.75
ES, S&P 500 futures
7,825.25
+0.70% on the day
Day range 7,764.25 to 7,838.50
How did our Futures Trading Algo Do Today?
Trades
13
ES/NQ/RTY/BTC ยท live + forward-test
Result
+$429.48
net for the day
Discipline
Winners were let run on the NY morning setups while the two London-close breakout fades were cut fast, and that kept the day green.
The book took 13 paper trades for 7 wins and 6 losses, netting a positive $429.48. The standout was SH_BBR_NQ_NYAM_15m, a short that pulled in +$238 on the day and carried the morning session, with the ES kill-zone and session breakout sleeves adding smaller wins on top. The drag came from the London-close volatility fades: SH_VBOx_ES_LonClose_1h_N55 was the worst trade at a $191 loss, and its NQ cousin lost $38, but the morning winners more than covered them.
Follow every signal
Telegram, Discord, X
SPY and QQQ
The story
US stocks climbed on Thursday as the Nasdaq 100 rose 1.21% to close at 30,214.25 and the S&P 500 added 0.70% to finish at 7,825.25, tagging a fresh high along the way. Strategists said the tape is being reshaped by what one called one of the most significant rotations of the current bull market, as money shuffles between leadership groups. Cisco was a notable laggard, falling on margin concerns even after posting record revenue and strong AI demand. Underneath the green screens, the day was less about one big catalyst and more about steady buying that kept the major averages pointed up into the close.
The MAG7 and the megacaps
The mega-cap technology names did much of the heavy lifting, which is why the Nasdaq 100's 1.21% gain outpaced the broader S&P 500's 0.70% rise and the more industrial-leaning Dow. Cisco was the exception, sliding on worries about profit margins even as revenue hit a record and management pointed to healthy AI-related demand, a reminder that strong sales do not always translate into a higher stock when investors focus on profitability. Applied Materials earnings were also on deck after the bell, keeping the chip and AI hardware trade in focus. With rotation the theme of the week, leadership within big tech looked uneven rather than uniform.
After the bell
Fitch affirms US at AA+ with a stable outlook
Fitch kept its rating on the United States at AA+ and held the outlook stable, even as it acknowledged a growth slowdown. A steady rating removes one source of uncertainty for markets, and the affirmation landed without disrupting the day's upward drift in stocks.
A major market rotation takes center stage
One strategist described the current environment as featuring one of the most significant rotations of the current bull market. Rotation means investors are moving money between different groups of stocks rather than piling into the same winners, and that churn helped explain why leadership looked uneven even on an up day.
Cisco falls on margins despite record revenue
Cisco dropped as investors zeroed in on margin concerns, brushing past record revenue and solid AI demand. It was a clear example of the market rewarding profitability over headline sales growth, and it kept a lid on parts of the tech complex.
S&P 500 hits a high with earnings still rolling in
The S&P 500 reached a fresh high, helped by gains in Workday, Sandisk and firmer oil prices, according to market coverage. Applied Materials earnings were due after the close, keeping the AI hardware and chip equipment story front and center heading into the next session.
Crypto
Bitcoin barely moved, closing at $63,391.77, down just 0.02% on the day after trading between roughly $62,920 and $63,890. That flat finish stood in contrast to the steady gains in stocks, a sign that crypto traders were content to hold ground rather than chase the equity move. Gold also drew attention, with one report noting the metal must clear a nearby hurdle before it can mount another bullish run. For now, the digital asset story was one of quiet consolidation.
Into the night
Overnight and into the session, futures set a constructive tone that carried through the day, with the S&P 500 futures ranging from a low near 7,764.25 to a high around 7,838.50 before settling at 7,825.25. The Nasdaq 100 futures showed a wider swing, dipping as low as 29,780.50 before powering up to 30,272.75 at the peak and closing at 30,214.25. That roughly 490-point round trip on the Nasdaq contract points to an active but ultimately one-directional day for buyers. Oil prices and strength in names like Workday and Sandisk were cited as part of the backdrop that helped the S&P 500 reach its high.
What is coming next
Nasdaq 100 close
30,214.25
Up 1.21%, the day's leader; watch the 30,272 high as near-term resistance.
S&P 500 close
7,825.25
Up 0.70% to a fresh high; the 7,764 low marks first support.
Bitcoin
$63,391.77
Flat at down 0.02%; consolidating between roughly $62,920 and $63,890.
Applied Materials earnings
After the bell
A read on AI hardware and chip equipment demand into the next session.
With the S&P 500 at a fresh high and the Nasdaq 100 leading, the near-term question is whether the rotation strategists flagged keeps broadening the advance or starts to sap momentum from tech. Keep an eye on how the market digests Applied Materials earnings for a fresh signal on AI hardware demand, and watch whether gold can clear the hurdle noted in the news before making another run. Bitcoin's flat finish leaves it coiled, so a break of its recent range could set the tone for crypto. As always, this is educational context and not financial advice.
Want this live, for free?
We send market moving news the moment it hits, straight to Telegram, Discord and X. Then this recap pulls the day together every evening: ES and NQ, the MAG7, crypto, and what is next.
Educational market recap, not financial advice. Futures and options trading carry substantial risk of loss. Prices reflect the 2026-08-13 session close; charts are live and interactive. Always verify before acting.