What Happened Today, Thursday November 12, 2026, 5:00 PM ET close
Stocks Slip a Quarter Percent as Iran War News Keeps Investors Cautious
Both major index futures closed down 0.25% after a wide trading range, while Bitcoin fell 3.45%.
ES and NQ at the close
NQ, Nasdaq 100 futures
28,401.50
-0.25% on the day
Day range 28,013.75 to 28,652.25
ES, S&P 500 futures
7,621.75
-0.25% on the day
Day range 7,572.00 to 7,674.75
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Our automated paper book stayed flat today on NQ and ES. No setups met our entry rules, so no strategies fired and there is no best or worst trade to report. Net result was $0, which is the right outcome when the market offers nothing clean.
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The story
U.S. stock index futures drifted lower on Thursday, with the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq 100 each finishing down 0.25%. The S&P 500 contract closed at 7,621.75 and the Nasdaq 100 contract at 28,401.5. Headlines about the Iran war and tanker explosions in the Strait of Hormuz kept investors cautious, and Bitcoin fell 3.45% in a sign that appetite for risk was soft. The Dow was not part of today's data, so we are not citing a move for it.
The MAG7 and the megacaps
We do not have price data for individual Magnificent 7 stocks in today's numbers, so we will not guess at their moves. What we can say is that the Nasdaq 100, which leans heavily on those big technology names, fell 0.25%, the same as the S&P 500. That suggests big tech was not an outlier in either direction today.
After the bell
Iran war stays in focus
Reuters ran several pieces on the conflict, including commentary saying both the U.S. and Iran have squandered good options to end the war, and a look at whether a new Congress could push toward an end to it. Ongoing uncertainty like this tends to keep investors from taking big bets.
Tankers hit in the Strait of Hormuz
Iran said four tankers were struck by explosions in the Strait of Hormuz. This is a key shipping route, so any threat to it draws attention from markets even when the full facts are still unclear.
Trump says no Iran deal needed
Reuters reported that President Trump said the U.S. does not need a deal with Iran and directed Vice President Vance to focus on domestic corruption. A lower chance of a quick diplomatic fix may have added to the cautious tone.
Fed changes its 2027 meeting plan
CNBC reported that, in a policy switch, the Fed said its October 2027 meeting will not include a vote on interest rates. It is a long way off, but it is an unusual change to the schedule that investors will want to understand better.
Crypto
Bitcoin had the roughest day of the group, falling 3.45% to close at $71,413.93. It traded between $71,261.95 and $74,072.29, and it finished very close to the bottom of that range. That means sellers were still in control into the close rather than buyers stepping in late.
Into the night
We do not have overnight session data in today's facts, so we will leave that out rather than guess. What we do know is that both index futures traded in a wide band during the day. The S&P 500 contract ranged from 7,572.0 to 7,674.75, and the Nasdaq 100 contract from 28,013.75 to 28,652.25, then both settled lower.
What is coming next
S&P 500 futures support
7,572.0
Today's low, the first level to watch if selling continues.
S&P 500 futures resistance
7,674.75
Today's high, a bounce back above it would show buyers returning.
Nasdaq 100 futures support
28,013.75
Today's low for the tech heavy index.
Bitcoin support
$71,261.95
Today's low, which Bitcoin closed very close to.
These levels are simply today's highs and lows, which traders often watch the next day. They are not predictions. Headlines on the Iran war and the Strait of Hormuz could move markets quickly, so expect that news to matter more than any single price level.
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Educational market recap, not financial advice. Futures and options trading carry substantial risk of loss. Prices reflect the 2026-11-12 session close; charts are live and interactive. Always verify before acting.