What Happened Today, Tuesday August 25, 2026, 5:00 PM ET close
Nasdaq 100 Climbs 0.62% as Tech Leads a Quiet Grind Higher
Tech outpaces the broader market while Bitcoin slips and traders watch the Strait of Hormuz
ES and NQ at the close
NQ, Nasdaq 100 futures
29,287.50
+0.62% on the day
Day range 29,017.00 to 29,425.75
ES, S&P 500 futures
7,690.75
+0.27% on the day
Day range 7,660.25 to 7,714.00
How did our Futures Trading Algo Do Today?
Trades
2
ES/NQ/RTY/BTC ยท live + forward-test
Result
-$220.05
net for the day
Discipline
Small, defined-risk losses on both setups, no revenge trading and no oversized bets to chase the day back.
The book took two shots today and both missed. MZ_RTY_asia_sess_5m fired a short in the Asia session and closed for a loss of about $73. MZ_BTC_asia_sess_5m also went short in the same window and gave back roughly $147, the worse of the two. Net result was a loss of $220.05 across both trades, a quiet reminder that the Asia session setups did not have the follow-through needed today.
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SPY and QQQ
The story
US stocks finished Tuesday modestly higher, with the Nasdaq 100 outperforming as tech names led the advance while the S&P 500 and Dow posted smaller gains. Trading stayed relatively contained, with the S&P 500 holding a tighter range than the Nasdaq as investors weighed a steady stream of Middle East headlines, including reports that the US has begun returning staff to embassies in the region and that the Strait of Hormuz has reportedly been cleared of mines. A separate thread of trade friction emerged as Canada signaled it is preparing to retaliate against US tariffs, adding a mild layer of caution to an otherwise calm session. Overall, the tone was steady rather than euphoric, with markets grinding higher without any single catalyst driving the move.
The MAG7 and the megacaps
Mega cap tech names were the engine behind the Nasdaq's outperformance today, helping the index add 0.62% while the broader S&P 500 lagged slightly with a 0.27% gain. The relative strength in growth and technology names suggests investors were comfortable rotating back toward higher beta names even as geopolitical headlines continued to circulate. Without a specific earnings or guidance catalyst in the mix today, the move looked more like a continuation of the recent tech leaning bid than a reaction to any single company event.
After the bell
Strait of Hormuz Demining Claim
President Trump said the Strait of Hormuz has been cleared of mines while warning Iran not to plant more, a headline that likely eased some concern around oil transit risk given the strait's importance to global energy flows.
Iran War Oil Flow Exposure
Reuters reported that nearly half of global oil supply now flows through active war zones six months into the Iran conflict, a structural risk factor markets continue to monitor even as prices remain relatively calm.
US Embassy Staff Returning
The US has reportedly begun returning staff to Middle East embassies following earlier war related evacuations, a small signal of de-escalation that may have supported the modestly risk-on tone in equities.
Canada Tariff Retaliation Threat
Canada signaled it is preparing to retaliate against US tariffs, stating it is not simply waiting on trade talks, which keeps North American trade tension as a background risk for markets heading into the fall.
Crypto
Bitcoin took a step back today, slipping 0.65% and giving up some of its recent gains after swinging between a low of about $77,979 and a high near $81,023. The pullback came even as equities pushed higher, a reminder that crypto and stocks do not always move in lockstep session to session. The wide intraday range shows there was real two way trading interest, but sellers ultimately had the last word by the close.
Into the night
Overnight action was shaped largely by geopolitical headlines rather than economic data. Reuters reported that roughly half of global oil flows now originate from war zones six months into the Iran conflict, keeping energy markets on alert. Separately, the US Secret Service confirmed awareness of an Iranian video threat against Barron Trump, while reports indicated the US has started sending staff back to Middle East embassies after earlier evacuations. President Trump also stated the Strait of Hormuz has been demined, while warning Iran against placing new mines, a comment markets appeared to take as modestly reassuring for oil transit risk.
What is coming next
NQ Resistance
29,425
Today's high; a close above opens room for continuation
NQ Support
29,017
Today's low, a level to watch for follow through selling
ES Range
7,660 to 7,714
Today's trading band for the S&P 500 futures
Geopolitical Watch
Strait of Hormuz
Any change in the demining claim could move energy and equities quickly
With no major US economic releases driving today's session, markets are likely to stay headline sensitive in the near term, particularly around the Middle East and the Canada trade dispute. Traders should watch whether the Nasdaq's relative strength over the S&P 500 continues, as that dynamic often signals underlying risk appetite. Any escalation around the Strait of Hormuz or a formal Canadian tariff response could quickly shift the calm tone seen today.
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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 2026-08-25 session close; charts are live and interactive. Always verify before acting.