What Happened Today, Tuesday September 29, 2026, 5:00 PM ET close
Nasdaq Edges Up, S&P 500 Slips as Iran Headlines Keep Investors Cautious
Tech held up while the broader market drifted lower, and Iran headlines set the tone.
ES and NQ at the close
NQ, Nasdaq 100 futures
30,652.75
+0.28% on the day
Day range 30,372.25 to 30,725.50
ES, S&P 500 futures
7,738.25
-0.11% on the day
Day range 7,712.25 to 7,770.75
How did our Futures Trading Algo Do Today?
Discipline
Sitting out a day with no clean setups is a position too.
The automated paper book stayed flat today on both NQ and ES. No strategy produced a qualifying setup, so there was no best or worst trade and the net result was $0. Skipping low-quality conditions is part of the plan, and a flat day is an honest result.
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The story
US stocks finished mixed on Tuesday, September 29, 2026. The Nasdaq 100 rose 0.28%, while the S&P 500 slipped 0.11%, so technology shares held up better than the broader market. The main story was geopolitics. Headlines centered on the US and Iran, including new US sanctions on 10 targets and word that Tehran says it is ready for talks even as President Trump denied offering sanctions relief. Investors stayed cautious, and the moves in the major indexes were small.
The MAG7 and the megacaps
The Nasdaq 100 outperformed the S&P 500 today, which points to modest strength in large technology names. We do not have individual stock moves in today's data, so check your broker for the latest prices on the biggest tech companies. The index gap alone suggests investors kept leaning on large growth companies while the rest of the market softened.
After the bell
New US sanctions on Iran
The US sanctioned 10 people and entities accused of helping to buy weapons for Iran. Sanctions news can raise worries about energy supply and global trade, which is why markets watch it closely.
Mixed messages on talks
President Trump denied offering Iran sanctions relief, while Tehran said it is ready for talks. Conflicting signals like these make it hard for investors to judge how quickly tensions might ease.
Gulf markets turn cautious
Most Gulf stock markets closed lower as investors responded warily to the renewed US-Iran talks. Regional weakness showed that the uncertainty was not limited to US markets.
Pressure inside Iran
Reports described soaring costs for Iranians after seven months of war. The length of the conflict remains a background risk for global markets and energy prices.
Crypto
Bitcoin ended the day at about $83,382, down 0.14%. It traded between roughly $82,800 and $84,458, a range of about 2%, but finished close to where it started. Crypto stayed quiet and did not react strongly to the Iran headlines.
Into the night
Overseas, most Gulf stock markets ended lower as investors reacted cautiously to renewed US-Iran talks. In the Nasdaq 100, the day's range ran from about 30,372 to 30,726, and in the S&P 500 from about 7,712 to 7,771. Both indexes moved within fairly tight bands, a sign that traders were waiting for clearer news before making big bets.
What is coming next
Nasdaq 100 support
30,372
Today's low, a level traders will watch on any pullback.
Nasdaq 100 resistance
30,726
Today's high, the first hurdle if buyers regain control.
S&P 500 range
7,712 to 7,771
Today's low and high, a simple guide for tomorrow's moves.
Iran headlines
Talks and sanctions
Any change in tone can move markets quickly.
Tomorrow, keep an eye on whether the Nasdaq 100 can hold above today's low and whether the S&P 500 stays inside its narrow range. Fresh news on US-Iran talks or sanctions could shift sentiment fast. This recap is educational and is 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 2026-09-29 session close; charts are live and interactive. Always verify before acting.