What Happened Today, Wednesday November 04, 2026, 5:00 PM ET close
Stocks Surge as S&P 500 Gains 1.81% and Nasdaq 100 Climbs 1.2% After the Midterms
Big gains for US stocks and Bitcoin as the midterm election results and the Iran debate dominate the headlines.
ES and NQ at the close
NQ, Nasdaq 100 futures
28,646.75
+1.20% on the day
Day range 27,615.75 to 28,969.00
ES, S&P 500 futures
7,734.50
+1.81% on the day
Day range 7,490.00 to 7,746.25
How did our Futures Trading Algo Do Today?
Discipline
No qualifying setup means no trade, and staying flat is a valid result.
Our automated paper book took no trades today, so there were no winning or losing strategies to report and the net result was $0. Both the Nasdaq 100 and S&P 500 moved strongly, but no setup met our entry rules, so the book stayed flat and selective. Skipping a day like this is part of the process, not a miss.
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The story
US stocks finished sharply higher on Wednesday. The S&P 500 gained 1.81%, closing near the top of its daily range, while the Nasdaq 100 rose 1.2% and finished a bit below its high. The S&P 500 swung from a low near 7,490 to a high near 7,746, which shows buyers stepped in early and kept control. Headlines focused on the aftermath of the US midterm elections and the debate over Iran policy, though the data we have does not prove any single cause for the rally. Dow figures were not part of today's data, so we are not reporting them here.
The MAG7 and the megacaps
We do not have individual price data for the biggest tech names today, so we will not quote moves for them. What we can say is that the Nasdaq 100, which leans heavily on those large technology companies, rose 1.2%, a smaller gain than the broader S&P 500 at 1.81%. That gap suggests the strength was spread across more of the market rather than concentrated in a few giants.
After the bell
Midterm election fallout
Reuters coverage centered on the US midterm results and how they could affect the rest of the world, from Iran policy to trade. Investors are weighing what a shift in political balance could mean for future policy.
Iran policy under pressure
Reuters reported that the White House faces a choice between a deal and escalation on Iran, and that Vice President Vance distanced himself from the Iran war after the electoral defeat. Any move toward a deal or toward escalation could affect markets.
New US sanctions
The US placed sanctions on Indian and Turkish firms and individuals accused of aiding Iran. Sanctions news can add uncertainty for global trade and companies with international exposure.
Risk appetite across assets
Stocks and Bitcoin both rose strongly on the same day, with the S&P 500 up 1.81% and Bitcoin up 4.2%. That points to a broad improvement in willingness to take risk.
Crypto
Bitcoin had a strong day, rising 4.2% to close near $80,590. It traded between roughly $75,710 and $80,746, so it finished very close to its high for the day. Crypto often moves with risk appetite in stocks, and both rose together today.
Into the night
Stock index futures traded in a wide band overnight and during the day. The Nasdaq 100 ranged from about 27,616 to 28,969, a swing of roughly 1,350 points, while the S&P 500 ranged from about 7,490 to 7,746. Both closed well above their lows, which shows the market recovered and kept building on its gains through the session.
What is coming next
S&P 500 futures high
7,746.25
Today's high, a level traders will watch for a breakout.
S&P 500 futures low
7,490.00
Today's low, the area buyers defended during the session.
Nasdaq 100 futures high
28,969.00
Closed about 322 points below this peak.
Bitcoin high
$80,746.25
Bitcoin closed just under today's high, near $80,590.
These levels come straight from today's trading range and are reference points, not predictions. After a big one day gain, markets can keep climbing or pause and give some back. Watch Iran policy headlines and further reaction to the midterm results for clues. This recap is educational and is 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 2026-11-04 session close; charts are live and interactive. Always verify before acting.