SPY holds near flat while QQQ slips amid Fed, trade and chip signals

QQQ fell 0.59% while SPY eased 0.07%, leaving SPY ahead by 0.52 percentage points. Fed comments on labor risks and further rate cuts, new U.S.-China port fees, and Oracle's planned AMD-chip deployment framed the day's policy, trade, and technology context.

Published Aug 26, 2026

QQQ: -0.59%
SPY: -0.07%
QQQ − SPY: -0.52%

What shaped the session

Fed policy path

Powell highlighted rising labor-market downside risks and a possible end to balance-sheet reduction, while Collins said further rate cuts appeared prudent.

U.S.-China port fees

The United States and China began charging new port fees on ocean-shipping firms, adding a concrete transport measure to the trade backdrop.

AI chip infrastructure

Oracle's plan to deploy 50,000 AMD processors from the second half of 2026 highlighted changing competition in AI cloud infrastructure.

Key news

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←Oct 13:QQQ rebounds 2.09% as trade dialogue, AI chips and rate-cut signals take focus·View all October 2025 QQQ/SPY reviews·Oct 15:A volatile advance leaves QQQ up 0.76% with Fed, trade and chip news in focus→