August 31 market wrap: S&P 500 falls as Nasdaq-100 edges up
The S&P 500 fell 0.33% while the Nasdaq-100 edged up 0.08% and the VIX rose to 14.92. Tesla gained 5.51% as Amazon lost 2.50%.
YieldCove Desk
2 min read
S&P 500
7,686.14
−0.33%
Nasdaq-100
29,456.97
+0.08%
Dow
53,186
−0.70%
Cboe VIX
14.92
+3.40%
A mixed close left the Nasdaq-100 just above water
U.S. stocks ended the regular session on Monday, August 31, 2026 with a split result across the headline benchmarks. The S&P 500 fell 25.62 points, or 0.33%, to 7,686.14. The Nasdaq-100 added 23.57 points, or 0.08%, to 29,456.97, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 374 points, or 0.70%, to 53,186. Nasdaq’s market-status record identifies August 31 as a business day with a 4:00 p.m. ET close and September 1 as the next trade date.
| Market | Close | Daily move |
|---|---|---|
| S&P 500 | 7,686.14 | −0.33% |
| Nasdaq-100 | 29,456.97 | +0.08% |
| Dow Jones Industrial Average | 53,186 | −0.70% |
| Cboe VIX | 14.92 | +3.40% |
Volatility rose while the 10-year yield edged higher
The Cboe VIX closed at 14.92, up 0.49 point, or 3.40%, from 14.43 on Friday. On the official Treasury curve, the 2-year par yield held at 4.34%, while the 10-year yield rose 2 basis points to 4.75%. The VIX remained below 15 despite the daily increase, and the longer benchmark yield moved only modestly. Those closing observations describe the day’s backdrop; neither one alone determines option prices or the next session’s direction.
Treasury yields, August 28–31
Official daily par yields; changes are in percentage points.
Source: U.S. Department of the Treasury, accessed August 31, 2026
Wheel lens
A VIX close of 14.92 summarizes expected S&P 500 volatility over roughly 30 days; it is not an executable option quote for TSLA or AMZN. Contract-level context still requires the exact expiry and strike, bid and ask, open interest, implied volatility, event calendar, full cash or share obligation, and assignment tolerance.
Tesla climbed while Amazon retreated
Among wheel-relevant names on YieldCove’s current watchlist, Tesla (TSLA) closed at $367.95, up $19.20, or 5.51%, from $348.75. Amazon (AMZN) finished at $259.77, down $6.66, or 2.50%, from $266.43. Cboe’s delayed closing quotes and Nasdaq’s stock screener agreed on both closes, dollar changes and rounded percentages. The feeds verify the size and direction of the moves; closing data alone do not establish a company-specific cause.
| Ticker | Close | Daily move | Cboe volume |
|---|---|---|---|
| TSLA | $367.95 | +$19.20 / +5.51% | 61.51M |
| AMZN | $259.77 | −$6.66 / −2.50% | 45.82M |
Moves in opposite directions can alter option moneyness in different ways. An existing covered call on a rising stock can move closer to or further into the money, while an existing cash-secured put on a falling stock can move closer to assignment. Neither close reveals Tuesday’s spread, skew, contract-specific implied volatility or executable premium. Option premiums are quoted per share, one standard contract normally represents 100 shares, and the full collateral or delivery obligation matters more than the daily percentage move alone.
What Monday’s close establishes
August ended with the Nasdaq-100 slightly positive, the S&P 500 and Dow lower, the VIX higher and the 10-year Treasury yield up two basis points. TSLA and AMZN supplied two verified but opposite watchlist moves. These dated closing values are reference points rather than forecasts: company events, contract liquidity and the first live quote on September 1 can materially change the wheel context.
Bottom line
The close was mixed rather than uniformly risk-on or risk-off. A higher VIX and contrasting ticker moves can change option context without identifying a favourable strike, premium or trade. This market wrap is educational information only, not personalized financial advice or an order instruction.
Sources
- [1]S&P 500 delayed closing quote — August 31, 2026 — Cboe Global Markets · Accessed 2026-08-31 · Tier 1
- [2]Nasdaq-100 delayed closing quote — August 31, 2026 — Cboe Global Markets · Accessed 2026-08-31 · Tier 1
- [3]Dow Jones delayed closing quote (DJX) — August 31, 2026 — Cboe Global Markets · Accessed 2026-08-31 · Tier 1
- [4]Cboe VIX delayed closing quote — August 31, 2026 — Cboe Global Markets · Accessed 2026-08-31 · Tier 1
- [5]Daily Treasury par yield curve rates — 2026 — U.S. Department of the Treasury · Accessed 2026-08-31 · Tier 1
- [6]Tesla delayed closing quote — August 31, 2026 — Cboe Global Markets · Accessed 2026-08-31 · Tier 1
- [7]Amazon delayed closing quote — August 31, 2026 — Cboe Global Markets · Accessed 2026-08-31 · Tier 1
- [8]Official U.S. stock screener closing data — August 31, 2026 — Nasdaq · Accessed 2026-08-31 · Tier 1
- [9]U.S. market status and session calendar — August 31, 2026 — Nasdaq · Accessed 2026-08-31 · Tier 1
This content is for informational and educational purposes only and is not financial advice. Options involve risk and are not suitable for every investor. Do your own research before trading.
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