Pre-NY Session Brief | Thursday 23 April 2026 | 13:00 London / 08:00 New York / 22:00 Tokyo
London did its job. The Nasdaq 100 (NAS100) has drifted higher from the overnight hold at 26,812 to 26,852 at midday, adding another 40 points in quiet trade. There has been no selling pressure, no reversal, and no reason to change the bias. The buyers who took control on Wednesday have not given back a single point. That is the kind of price action that precedes continuation, not reversal.
The picture is clear: everything points higher. Wednesday delivered SPY +1.01%, QQQ +1.67%, and the VIX below 19 for the first time this week. The options desk was unanimously bullish across all six mega-cap names. Asia held the gains. London extended them. Now New York gets to decide whether to push through 27,000 or consolidate here. The headline risk is a Reuters report on “US-Iran rare minerals” talks, which could impact energy and geopolitical sentiment. Watch crude oil and gold for any reaction at the open.
Scoring the Pre-London Call
London Session Recap
London was quiet and constructive. No fireworks, no panic, no headline-driven spikes. The FTSE 100 traded flat, the DAX 40 drifted marginally higher, and European volumes were unremarkable. Sterling held around 1.3500 against the dollar, and the euro was steady near 1.1710. This is exactly the kind of session you want to see after a strong US rally: consolidation without retracement. The market is absorbing the gains, not giving them back.
The Reuters headline about US-Iran rare minerals negotiations is worth watching but has not moved markets during the London session. If it develops into a broader geopolitical thaw, it could pressure crude oil (currently $92.82) and support risk appetite further. If it fizzles, it is a non-event. Do not trade the headline. Trade the reaction at the NY open.
NY Session Setup
| Event | Time (BST) | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| US Initial Jobless Claims | 13:30 | MEDIUM. Labour market pulse |
| US Durable Goods Orders | 13:30 | MEDIUM. Business investment proxy |
| Visa, Intel, T-Mobile (AMC) | After close | MEDIUM. Breadth confirmation |
Key Levels: NAS100 26,850 is current support (was resistance two days ago). A push above 26,900 targets the psychological 27,000. Below 26,750 warrants caution. SPY $709 remains the institutional floor. Above $713 and we are in new weekly territory.
Position approach: The bias is long. Standard sizing. The trend is with you, the flow is with you, and the overnight price action confirmed it. If the data at 13:30 BST is strong, add. If weak, hold what you have. This is not a day to be clever. It is a day to be positioned.
This is analysis, not financial advice. Always manage your risk.
