It is Saturday, January 17, 2026. If you're checking your portfolio or just wondering what's the nasdaq at right now, you've caught the market during a bit of a weekend breather. Since the markets are closed today, the numbers we’re looking at are the final tallies from Friday’s closing bell.
The Nasdaq Composite finished the week at 23,515.39.
That was a tiny slip—down about 0.06% on the day. It’s a classic "choppy" finish. One minute things looked green because of a massive semiconductor deal with Taiwan, and the next, everyone started sweating over who the next Fed Chair might be. You know how it goes. Investors basically decided to pack it in early for the long weekend (reminder: markets are closed this Monday for MLK Day).
What's actually moving the needle?
Honestly, the headline number doesn't tell the whole story. While the Composite was flat, the Nasdaq-100 (NDX)—which is where the big tech giants live—closed at 25,529.26.
It’s been a weird week. We saw record-breaking earnings from Taiwan Semiconductor (TSMC), which usually acts like rocket fuel for the Nasdaq. They reported a 35% jump in profit. That’s huge. But even that wasn't enough to keep the entire index in the green by Friday afternoon.
Why? Politics and Greenland. Yeah, you read that right. Geopolitical chatter and the looming uncertainty about Federal Reserve leadership have people "skittish," as the floor traders like to say. President Trump's recent comments about the Fed have shifted the betting odds for the next Chair, moving away from Kevin Hassett and toward Kevin Warsh. Markets hate not knowing who’s holding the steering wheel on interest rates.
What's the nasdaq at right now in terms of the "Big Picture"?
If you zoom out, the Nasdaq has actually dropped about 0.66% over the last five days. It’s not a crash, but it's a "simmer down" after a hot start to the year.
We’re seeing a massive split in tech right now. On one side, you have the "Hardware Kings." Stocks like Super Micro Computer (SMCI) jumped 11% this week, and Micron (MU) was up nearly 8%. They’re riding the wave of a new $250 billion U.S.-Taiwan trade deal aimed at boosting domestic chip production.
On the other side? The software giants are getting hammered. Adobe, Salesforce, and ServiceNow are all down double digits so far in 2026. It seems like the "AI trade" is shifting from the people who write the code to the people who build the physical boxes.
Real-world numbers from the Friday close:
- Nasdaq Composite: 23,515.39 (-14.63 points)
- Nasdaq-100: 25,529.26 (-17.81 points)
- Daily High: 23,664.26
- Daily Low: 23,446.81
The volatility index, or the VIX, is sitting around 15.8. That’s relatively calm, but it’s up from where we were a few weeks ago. It suggests that while nobody is panicking, everyone is keeping one eye on the exit door.
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Why most people get the Nasdaq wrong lately
A lot of folks think if the Nasdaq is down, "Tech" is down. That’s just not true anymore.
This week, space stocks were the surprise heroes. AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) surged over 14% after landing a government defense contract. Firefly Aerospace followed suit. When you ask what's the nasdaq at right now, you have to realize the index is becoming a mix of old-school tech, AI infrastructure, and now, a booming commercial space sector.
We also have to talk about the "Greenland factor." Geopolitical unrest in that region has sparked some weird ripples in energy and defense stocks that are listed on the Nasdaq. It sounds like something out of a Tom Clancy novel, but it’s affecting your 401(k).
The "One Big Beautiful Bill" effect
There’s also the fiscal side of things. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) is starting to dump stimulus into the economy this quarter. Analysts at UBS think this is going to support earnings even if the Fed stays hawkish.
But there’s a catch.
Inflation is still being "stubborn." The Fed meets in two weeks, and right now, the smart money is betting they’ll leave rates exactly where they are. If you’re waiting for a rate cut to save your growth stocks, you might be waiting until the cherry blossoms bloom in DC.
What to watch next week
Since Monday is a holiday, Tuesday is going to be a "catch-up" day. We’ve got some heavy hitters reporting earnings:
- Intel: This will be the ultimate litmus test for the "American Chip" narrative.
- United Airlines: Not tech, obviously, but a huge indicator of consumer spending.
- 3M: A gauge for the industrial side of the Nasdaq.
Actionable Steps for Your Portfolio:
If you’re looking at these numbers and wondering what to do, here’s the expert take. First, check your weightings. If you're heavy on "SaaS" (software as a service), you're likely feeling the burn right now. It might be time to look at the "picks and shovels" of the AI world—the hardware and infrastructure companies.
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Second, watch the 10-year Treasury yield. It’s currently hovering around 4.22%. If that keeps climbing, the Nasdaq's price-to-earnings ratios are going to look very expensive very quickly.
Lastly, don't ignore the small caps. While the big Nasdaq indexes were flat-to-down, smaller companies have been outperforming the "Magnificent Seven" lately. Diversification isn't just a buzzword; in 2026, it’s a survival strategy.
Keep an eye on the 23,400 level for the Composite. If we break below that next week, we might be looking at a deeper correction. But for now, it’s just a long weekend of rest for a very tired market.
Next Steps for You:
- Review your tech exposure: Check if you're too concentrated in software vs. hardware.
- Set price alerts: Mark 23,400 on the Nasdaq Composite as a key support level to watch on Tuesday morning.
- Monitor the Fed Chair race: Any news on Kevin Warsh vs. Kevin Hassett will move the needle more than any earnings report right now.
The market stays closed until Tuesday morning at 9:30 AM ET. Enjoy the break.