What Happened Today, Friday September 25, 2026, 5:00 PM ET close
Stocks Rise 0.5% Friday as Iran Headlines Keep Traders on Watch
Both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 finished about half a percent higher, while Bitcoin slipped and our trading book stayed flat.
ES and NQ at the close
NQ, Nasdaq 100 futures
30,921.75
+0.50% on the day
Day range 30,679.00 to 30,999.50
ES, S&P 500 futures
7,805.75
+0.50% on the day
Day range 7,748.50 to 7,814.75
How did our Futures Trading Algo Do Today?
Discipline
Sitting out when nothing qualifies is a position too.
The book stayed flat and selective today. No strategies fired because no setups met our entry rules on either the Nasdaq 100 or S&P 500 futures. Net result was zero trades and $0 in paper profit and loss, which is the honest record for a day without a qualifying signal.
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SPY and QQQ
The story
US stocks finished Friday higher, with the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq 100 each gaining about 0.5%. Futures on the S&P 500 closed near 7,805.75 and the Nasdaq 100 near 30,921.75, both finishing well above their session lows. Headlines about Iran, including a warning from President Trump to China's Xi over Chinese support for Tehran, kept investors alert throughout the day. Even so, buyers stepped in and the major indexes closed the week on a positive note.
The MAG7 and the megacaps
We do not have specific price data for the Magnificent 7 today, so we will not guess at individual moves. What we can say is that the Nasdaq 100, which is heavily weighted toward these mega-cap tech names, rose about 0.5%, so the group as a whole likely helped lift the index. Check your own brokerage for the exact moves in Apple, Microsoft, Nvidia, Alphabet, Amazon, Meta, and Tesla.
After the bell
Trump presses Xi on Iran
President Trump warned China's Xi over Chinese support for Iran and, according to a US envoy, received assurances in return. Any change in how major powers approach the conflict can shift how investors think about risk.
Iran holds firm on nuclear talks
An Iranian official said the country will make no nuclear concessions. That keeps diplomatic uncertainty alive, which has been a steady theme for markets in recent sessions.
Hormuz oil flows in focus
Crude exports through the Strait of Hormuz totaled 33.7 million barrels this week. Because so much of the world's oil moves through this route, shipping data there can influence energy prices and, in turn, inflation expectations.
Airlines feel the strain
Qatar Airways is retiring idle A330 jets and sending pilots to RwandAir as the Iran war drags on, and three Iraqi airports paused Iranian flights. It shows how the conflict is spreading into travel and transportation.
Crypto
Bitcoin moved the opposite way from stocks on Friday, slipping 0.73% to about $83,762. It traded between roughly $83,256 and $85,205 during the day. That kind of range is a reminder that crypto often trades on its own schedule, and it does not always follow the stock market's mood.
Into the night
Overnight and early headlines centered on the Middle East. Reuters reported that Iran will make no nuclear concessions, according to an Iranian official, while three Iraqi airports suspended Iranian flights starting Friday. Separately, data showed crude oil exports via the Strait of Hormuz reached 33.7 million barrels this week, a figure traders watch closely because of its link to global energy supply.
What is coming next
S&P 500 futures
7,805.75
Friday close, with the session range at 7,748.50 to 7,814.75
Nasdaq 100 futures
30,921.75
Friday close, with the session range at 30,679.00 to 30,999.50
Bitcoin
$83,762
Watch the $83,256 low and the $85,205 high from Friday
Iran headlines
Ongoing
Diplomacy and oil shipping news could move markets again
Heading into the new week, the key levels to watch are Friday's highs and lows for the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100. Iran-related news and oil shipping data through Hormuz remain the main outside forces. This is educational content, not financial advice.
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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 2026-09-25 session close; charts are live and interactive. Always verify before acting.