What Happened Today, Wednesday August 26, 2026, 5:00 PM ET close
Stocks Edge Higher as Wall Street Awaits Jackson Hole and Watches the Iran Oman Talks
Nasdaq linked NQ futures led, S&P linked ES futures added a smaller gain, and traders kept one eye on the Strait of Hormuz.
ES and NQ at the close
NQ, Nasdaq 100 futures
29,432.50
+0.53% on the day
Day range 29,096.00 to 29,437.75
ES, S&P 500 futures
7,710.00
+0.23% on the day
Day range 7,670.75 to 7,710.25
How did our Futures Trading Algo Do Today?
Trades
13
ES/NQ/RTY/BTC, live + forward test
Result
+$560.57
net for the day
Discipline
The book stuck to its playbook, cutting the one weak session setup fast and letting the two winning NQ setups run to their targets.
It was a green day for the paper book. BBR_NQ_NYAM_15m and its sister setup SH_BBR_NQ_NYAM_15m both fired twice and combined for the bulk of the gains, with BBR_NQ_NYAM_15m's short trade the best performer at plus $220. OU_NQ_Asia_KZ_15m and the BTC session setups also chipped in on the winning side. The one clear loser was SH_STO_BTC_ASIA_KZ_1h, a long that gave back $179, but with 9 wins against 4 losses across 13 trades the book still closed net positive at plus $560.57.
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SPY and QQQ
The story
US stock index futures finished Wednesday's session in the green, with NQ futures, which track the Nasdaq 100, up 0.53 percent to close at 29,432.50 after swinging between 29,096.00 and 29,437.75. ES futures, which track the S&P 500, added a more modest 0.23 percent to settle at 7,710.00, trading between 7,670.75 and 7,710.25 along the way. The gains came as traders digested a fresh agreement between Iran and Oman over the Strait of Hormuz, which took some geopolitical risk premium out of energy markets. Attention is now turning to Jackson Hole, where economists want to hear more from Fed voice Kevin Warsh about his read on the economy.
The MAG7 and the megacaps
Mega cap technology names were a big part of why NQ futures outran ES futures on Wednesday, since the Nasdaq 100 carries a heavier weighting toward the largest tech companies. When those stocks lead, the Nasdaq 100 tends to pull ahead of the broader S&P 500, and that is roughly the pattern that played out today. There was no single headline driving the group, more a steady bid that lifted growth and tech names alongside the rest of the market.
After the bell
Iran and Oman reach a Hormuz agreement
Iran's Revolutionary Guards said Iran and Oman reached agreements on sharing the Strait of Hormuz and its associated revenues. The Strait of Hormuz is a critical corridor for global oil shipments, so any easing of tension there tends to calm energy markets and reduce the geopolitical risk premium that had been priced into futures.
Jackson Hole comes into focus
A CNBC survey found economists want Fed voice Kevin Warsh to share more detail on his view of the economy at Jackson Hole. Traders are watching closely for any signal on the future path of interest rates, which remains one of the biggest swing factors for both stocks and futures pricing.
European markets stay muted
Reuters reported European shares were largely flat as investors weighed the Iran Oman talks alongside fresh US inflation data, while the FTSE 100 slipped on weakness in healthcare and energy stocks. The subdued tone overseas contrasted with the modest gains in US futures.
Cyber concerns tied to Iran linger
Reuters reported that a hack of a water sector supplier is drawing FBI scrutiny as concerns grow over Iran linked cyber activity. It is a reminder that even as diplomatic talks progress, security risks tied to the region have not gone away, and the US Iran standoff is also pushing Europe and Asia to lean harder into renewable energy investment.
Crypto
Bitcoin also firmed up on the day, adding 0.2 percent to trade near 78,722.67 after ranging between 77,641.16 and 79,225.88. The move was modest compared to the intraday swing, suggesting crypto traders were mostly marking time rather than making a strong directional bet, similar to the muted tone seen across European equities.
Into the night
Overnight and into the European session, the tone was cautious rather than confident. Reuters reported European shares were muted as investors weighed the Iran and Oman talks alongside US inflation data, and the FTSE 100 slipped as healthcare and energy stocks weighed on the index. The headline development was that Iran and Oman reached agreements covering the Strait of Hormuz and how revenues from it would be shared, according to Iran's Revolutionary Guards, which helped calm some of the geopolitical nerves that had been hanging over energy and shipping related trades. Separately, Reuters reported that a hack of a water sector supplier is drawing FBI scrutiny amid growing concern about Iran linked cyber activity, a reminder that geopolitical risk has not fully faded even as the Hormuz talks progressed. Reuters also noted that the US Iran standoff is pushing Europe and Asia to accelerate investment in renewables.
What is coming next
NQ resistance
29,437.75
Today's session high on NQ futures, a level bulls will want to clear to build on Wednesday's gain.
ES support
7,670.75
Today's session low on ES futures, a level to watch if selling pressure returns.
Jackson Hole commentary
Ongoing
Economists are looking for Kevin Warsh to detail his economic outlook, which could move rate expectations.
Hormuz follow through
Watch energy prices
Confirmation that the Iran Oman agreement holds could keep easing pressure on oil and shipping related trades.
Heading into the next session, traders will likely keep one eye on Jackson Hole for any fresh signal on the Fed's thinking and another on whether the Iran and Oman agreement over the Strait of Hormuz continues to hold. NQ futures held up better than ES futures on Wednesday, and whether that gap narrows or widens may hinge on how mega cap technology names trade relative to the rest of the market. Bitcoin's modest gain also bears watching, since a more decisive move either way could offer a read on broader risk appetite.
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Educational market recap, not financial advice. Futures and options trading carry substantial risk of loss. Prices reflect the 2026-08-26 session close; charts are live and interactive. Always verify before acting.