What Happened Today, Wednesday September 23, 2026, 5:00 PM ET close
Stocks Slip as Oil and Bond Yields Climb on Iran Tensions
Oil jumps about 4% after Iran's president vows no surrender, and rising Treasury yields weigh on the market.
ES and NQ at the close
NQ, Nasdaq 100 futures
30,776.00
-0.81% on the day
Day range 30,642.75 to 31,094.75
ES, S&P 500 futures
7,772.75
-0.75% on the day
Day range 7,758.75 to 7,843.25
How did our Futures Trading Algo Do Today?
Discipline
Sitting out a choppy, headline driven day is a position too.
Our automated book stayed flat today on NQ and ES, with no strategies firing and no wins or losses to report. No setup met our entry rules while the market reacted to oil and bond yield headlines, so the paper result was zero dollars. Staying selective is part of the process, and we do not force trades on days without a qualifying setup.
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The story
Wall Street ended lower on Wednesday as a jump in oil prices and rising Treasury yields pulled stocks down. The Nasdaq 100 fell 0.81% and the S&P 500 fell 0.75%. Oil settled up around 4% after Iran's president said his country would never surrender, and Reuters reported that Iran and the US are still far apart in peace talks. Higher bond yields added pressure, since they make stocks look less attractive compared with safer investments.
The MAG7 and the megacaps
We do not have individual figures for the largest technology names in today's data, so we will keep this general. The Nasdaq 100 fell 0.81%, a slightly bigger drop than the broader S&P 500, which points to big growth and technology stocks feeling the pinch from higher yields. One bright spot from the headlines was Boeing, which CNBC noted was bucking the downward trend.
After the bell
Oil jumps about 4%
Oil settled up around 4% after Iran's president vowed never to surrender. Higher oil prices can raise costs for businesses and consumers, and they tend to stoke worries about inflation.
Treasury yields rise
Bond yields spiked, which weighed on stocks. When yields rise, borrowing gets more expensive and future company profits are worth less in today's terms, which often hits growth stocks the hardest.
Iran and US peace talks stall
An Iranian official said the two sides are still far apart in peace talks, and President Pezeshkian accused Trump of a bullying mentality. Markets dislike uncertainty, and the lack of progress kept investors cautious.
Boeing bucks the trend
While the broader market fell, CNBC highlighted Boeing as a stock moving against the trend. It is a reminder that individual companies can rise even on a down day for the market.
Crypto
Bitcoin also had a rough session, closing at $84,416.26, down 2.04%. It traded between a low of $83,785.38 and a high of $87,243.36, a wide range that shows how quickly sentiment shifted during the day. Crypto fell more than stocks, which is common when investors pull back from riskier assets.
Into the night
Overseas, the UK's FTSE 100 was muted as gains in energy shares offset a broader drag, according to Reuters. Traders there were also watching the Iran situation and a visit involving Xi. Overnight, the S&P 500 traded as high as 7843.25 before sliding to a low of 7758.75, and the Nasdaq 100 ranged from 30642.75 to 31094.75. Both closed near the lower end of those ranges.
What is coming next
S&P 500 support
7758.75
Today's low. A move below it would show sellers are still in control.
S&P 500 resistance
7843.25
Today's high. Buyers would need to reclaim it to turn the tone around.
Nasdaq 100 support
30642.75
Today's low, a level worth watching for further weakness in tech.
Nasdaq 100 resistance
31094.75
Today's high, the ceiling to beat for any rebound.
Watch for fresh news on the Iran talks, since oil and Treasury yields are moving with each headline. If oil and yields keep climbing, stocks may stay under pressure. If they cool off, the market could find its footing. This is educational content, not financial advice.
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Educational market recap, not financial advice. Futures and options trading carry substantial risk of loss. Prices reflect the 2026-09-23 session close; charts are live and interactive. Always verify before acting.