What Happened Today, Wednesday October 21, 2026, 5:00 PM ET close
Nasdaq 100 Jumps 1.17% as Stocks Rally and Bitcoin Gains on Renewed Peace Talk Hopes
Tech led the way higher while news of resumed peace talks and a firm oil backdrop shaped the mood.
ES and NQ at the close
NQ, Nasdaq 100 futures
30,023.75
+1.17% on the day
Day range 29,727.50 to 30,113.00
ES, S&P 500 futures
7,800.25
+0.58% on the day
Day range 7,751.00 to 7,812.25
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Discipline
No qualifying setups meant no trades, and staying flat is a valid result.
Our automated paper book stayed flat and selective today on NQ and ES. No setups met our entry rules, so no strategies fired, there was no best or worst trade, and the net result was $0. Skipping a day without a clean signal is part of the plan.
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The story
US stocks finished higher on Wednesday, with technology shares doing most of the lifting. The Nasdaq 100 gained 1.17% to close near 30,024, while the S&P 500 rose 0.58% to finish near 7,800. News that Russia agreed to resume three-way peace talks with Ukraine and the US helped lift the mood. A hot inflation report in the UK and stalled Iran-US diplomacy kept some caution in the background.
The MAG7 and the megacaps
We do not have individual price data for the biggest tech companies today, so we will not put numbers on them. What we can say is that the Nasdaq 100 outpaced the S&P 500 by a wide margin, 1.17% versus 0.58%. Because the largest tech names carry heavy weight in the Nasdaq 100, that gap suggests big technology stocks were a main source of strength.
After the bell
Russia agrees to resume peace talks
Reuters reported that Putin agreed to resume three-way peace talks with Ukraine and the US. Any sign of progress toward ending a major conflict can ease worries and support appetite for stocks.
New US sanctions tied to Iran
The US sanctioned a Greece- and Panama-based law firm over help given to Iranian shipping. Together with stalled Iran-US diplomacy, it shows tension in the region has not gone away.
Hot UK inflation report
The UK's FTSE 100 ticked higher, but a hot inflation report held back gains. Persistent price pressures abroad are a reminder that central banks may stay cautious about interest rates.
Energy and oil supply news
Saudi crude oil exports hit a five-month high in August, and energy shares helped the FTSE 100. Oil supply and prices remain an important thing to watch for inflation and for markets.
Crypto
Bitcoin rose 2.14% to close near $84,716. It traded between roughly $82,566 and $84,835 during the day, finishing close to the top of that range. The move echoed the stock market, as investors showed a bit more willingness to take risk.
Into the night
Overseas, the tone was mixed. The UK's FTSE 100 edged higher on an energy boost, but a hot inflation report limited the gains. Most Gulf stock markets slipped as diplomacy between Iran and the US hit a standstill. Separately, data showed Saudi crude oil exports reached a five-month high in August.
What is coming next
Nasdaq 100 high
30,113
Today's high, a level buyers will want to clear to extend the move.
Nasdaq 100 low
29,727.50
Today's low, a level to watch if the market gives back gains.
S&P 500 high
7,812.25
Today's high for the broader market.
S&P 500 low
7,751
Today's low, where sellers last pushed the index.
These levels come from today's trading range and are reference points, not predictions. Watch for further news on the peace talks, Iran-US diplomacy, and oil, since each could shift the mood quickly.
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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 2026-10-21 session close; charts are live and interactive. Always verify before acting.