nasdaq 100 jumped alongside broader gains as US stocks surged after signals that the war in the Middle East may be drawing closer to an end, creating a volatile but decisive session to close out a brutal month and quarter.
What If the ceasefire signals hold?
Markets rallied on multiple public signals that the conflict may be nearing an end. The S&P 500 rose 2. 9% while the Dow rose roughly 2. 5%, translating into a move of more than 1, 000 points for the Dow on the day. The Nasdaq Composite gained 3. 8%, led by gains in megacap technology names.
Key market moves and energy readings from the session:
- S&P 500: +2. 9%
- Dow Jones Industrial Average: up ~2. 5%, more than 1, 000 points on the day
- Nasdaq Composite: +3. 8%
- Brent crude futures: down 2. 8% to around $104 per barrel
- U. S. West Texas Intermediate crude: down 1% to around $102 per barrel
- National U. S. gas prices at the pump crossed above $4 per gallon, per AAA data
The rally capped an otherwise volatile month and quarter: both the S&P 500 and the Dow were on track for their worst quarter since 2022, and multiple sectors logged sharp monthly declines. Consumer staples, industrials, healthcare, materials and real estate each recorded their worst month in years, while energy remained the primary outlier within the market.
What Happens to the Nasdaq 100 and Big Tech?
Megacap technology stocks led the session gains. Notable moves included an AI chip heavyweight rising more than 5%, a major software firm climbing more than 3%, and a large social media company rallying about 6%. The S&P 500, the Nasdaq Composite and the nasdaq 100 were at or near session highs and on pace for their best day since May 2025.
Even with the intra-day strength, the advance arrived at the end of a brutal stretch: the broader market’s rebound felt like a rebalancing after a month that dug a significant hole in performance across multiple sectors. The Nasdaq-led advance on the session underscores the extent to which megacap technology stocks can drive index moves.
What Should Market Participants Watch Next?
Two public signals framed the session: statements from Iran’s leadership indicating a willingness to negotiate toward an end to the war, and a public message from the U. S. president saying the conflict would not last “much longer” and that the U. S. would be prepared to wind down aggressive military action. Separately, Iran’s president told EU Council President António Costa that Iran has the necessary will to end the war but expects guarantees in exchange.
Investors also took energy moves as confirmation that expectations for an easing of Middle East risk were influencing prices: oil futures dropped and national pump prices moved above $4 per gallon. Despite Tuesday’s strong gains, the month and quarter left the S&P 500 and the Dow with their worst quarterly performance since 2022, suggesting that session highs for the S&P 500, the Nasdaq Composite and the nasdaq 100 remain fragile as the market digests whether negotiation signals will hold.
The final session’s action showed how a single day of risk repricing can produce sharp index swings while still leaving the broader quarterly damage intact. The S&P 500, the Nasdaq Composite and the nasdaq 100
