Durable-goods strength and AI hardware moves frame a 0.66% QQQ rise

QQQ rose 0.66% and SPY gained 0.54%, leaving QQQ ahead by 0.12 percentage points. Headline and core durable-goods orders exceeded estimates before both funds advanced during regular trading. Nvidia, Microsoft and Tesla supplied fresh AI infrastructure and hardware updates, while European technology regulation and a late South Korea tariff announcement added policy context.

Published Aug 22, 2026

QQQ: +0.66%
SPY: +0.54%
QQQ − SPY: +0.12%

What shaped the session

Durable-goods strength

November headline durable-goods orders rose 5.3% month over month versus a 3.1% estimate, while core orders increased 0.5% versus 0.3% expected.

AI infrastructure and hardware

Nvidia deepened its CoreWeave partnership with a $2 billion investment, Microsoft released the Maia 200 AI chip, and Tesla reportedly began shipping Model Y vehicles with its AI4.5 computer.

Technology and trade policy

The European Commission designated WhatsApp as a Very Large Online Platform, and Trump later announced that reciprocal tariffs on South Korean autos, lumber, pharmaceuticals and other goods would rise from 15% to 25%.

Key news

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