[DAILY TRADING] NAS100 Analysis 22 July 2026 – Nasdaq 100 Holds Near 29,100 Before Tesla and Alphabet Earnings

Nasdaq 100 today: the index is holding its breath before a big one. The Nasdaq 100 CFD from Vantage sat at 29,103.65 as of 02:07 UTC (10:07 GMT+8) on 22 July 2026, down a modest 32.00 points, 0.11%, from the open, even as Tesla and Alphabet prepare to report second-quarter earnings after today’s US close. The index has unfinished business from its mid-July drawdown, despite Tuesday’s broad tech rally lifting the Nasdaq Composite index 1.29% to 25,837.21.¹

This piece runs through the Nasdaq chart, the key levels, and what could move the index later today. All prices are as of 02:07 UTC (10:07 GMT+8) on 22 July 2026. Charts are indicative and from TradingView. This is not financial advice.

Key Points

• The Vantage NAS100 CFD sits at 29,103.65 as of the cut-off, wedged under the 200-period MA at 29,134.58 and comfortably above the 50-period MA at 28,881.37.
• Tesla and Alphabet report second-quarter earnings after today’s US close, alongside IBM, in a stretch analysts have called defining for this earnings season, with Tesla and Alphabet expected to carry the greatest weight for Nasdaq sentiment.²
• Tuesday snapped a three-day losing streak for US equities, with the Nasdaq Composite up 1.29% to 25,837.21 as chip stocks kept clawing back last week’s losses.¹

Reading the Nasdaq 100 chart today

On the 15-minute Nasdaq index chart, the Vantage NAS100 CFD opened at 29,135.65, tagged an intraday high of 29,143.15, dipped to 29,103.40, and settled near 29,103.65 by the cut-off, on light volume of 1.97K contracts, in keeping with a sleepy Asia morning session.

Pull back the lens and the picture gets more interesting: a sharp slide from above 29,500 into the 28,600 to 28,700 zone by 19 July, followed by a steady climb back to current levels. The 50-period MA sits at 28,881.37 and the 200-period MA at 29,134.58, per the TradingView setup used for this analysis, placing price directly beneath the 200-period moving average while remaining comfortably above the rising 50-period average.

RSI (14, close) reads 42.74, with its moving-average overlay at 49.21, per the same setup. The reading has eased below the neutral 50 level, suggesting bullish momentum has faded, although conditions remain far from oversold and well off the low-20s seen during last week’s sell-off.

What’s driving Nasdaq 100 sentiment today

Three threads matter into today’s close. First, earnings: Tesla and Alphabet both report after the close, and between them carry serious weight in the Nasdaq 100 index’s market-cap-weighted mix.² Schwab’s derivatives desk flagged the Nasdaq 100 and the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index as technically oversold heading into the print, adding a further bounce would not shock anyone if Alphabet’s AI spending guidance lands well.³

Second, the chip trade. Memory-chip stocks led Tuesday’s rebound, with Micron, SanDisk and Western Digital posting double-digit gains as the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index advanced more than 5%, helping the Nasdaq outpace the Dow.⁴ That follows a stretch where the sector took a real knock on AI spending nerves and fresh competition from overseas model releases.

Third, the Middle East conflict. Geopolitical tensions in the region continue to support elevated oil prices, though equity investors have largely stayed focused on corporate earnings and AI-related technology stocks rather than the headlines.⁵

None of that makes for a clean directional story: the chart is testing resistance from underneath while two of the index’s biggest names are about to speak. A session to watch, not to call.

Nasdaq index levels to watch

The table below covers the key zones on the Vantage NAS100 CFD. These are reference levels, not trade signals.

Table 1: Key NAS100 levels as of 22 July 2026, 02:07 UTC (10:07 GMT+8). Source: TradingView. Indicative only.

Clear the 200-period MA and today’s high near 29,143, and the Nasdaq 100 is back in the range it held before the mid-July drop. Slide back to the 50-period MA near 28,881, and it is back where Monday left off.

What to watch in Nasdaq news this week

• Tesla, Alphabet and IBM Earnings, 22 July: All report around today’s close; Alphabet’s AI spending outlook and Tesla’s delivery, margin and guidance commentary are the figures traders keep circling, with Tesla and Alphabet expected to have the greatest influence on Nasdaq sentiment.²
• Broader Earnings Season: Roughly 15% of S&P 500 constituents have reported so far this season, running well ahead of estimates.⁶
• Middle East Conflict Developments: Any credible sign of de-escalation, or the opposite, remains the wildcard for risk appetite and oil-linked inflation expectations.⁵

Market participants often keep an eye on Stop Loss placement around levels like the 50-period and 200-period MAs above, especially with two mega-cap earnings reports landing after today’s close. After-hours prints have a habit of moving the Nasdaq 100 sharply within minutes, and the usual intraday range assumptions get shaky in that window.

Leverage cuts both ways in an earnings-driven stretch like this one, amplifying wins and losses alike. Position sizing relative to account equity, on any indices-trading account, is worth a second look ahead of the Tesla and Alphabet reports, particularly given how easily this kind of session can gap at tomorrow’s open.

RISK WARNING: CFDs are complex financial instruments and carry a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. You should ensure you fully understand the risks involved and carefully consider whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money before trading.

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References

[1] “Stock market news for July 21, 2026” – CNBC https://www.cnbc.com/2026/07/20/stock-market-today-live-updates.html Accessed on 22 July 2026.

[2] “Earnings playbook: Alphabet and Tesla are among the big companies set to report this week” – CNBC https://www.cnbc.com/2026/07/19/earnings-playbook-alphabet-tesla-headline-this-weeks-big-reports.html Accessed on 22 July 2026.

[3] “Chips, Broader Market Up Early on Peace Talk Hopes” – Charles Schwab https://www.schwab.com/learn/story/stock-market-update-open Accessed on 22 July 2026.

[4] “Today’s Market Recap: Oil Prices Surge, Chip Stocks Rally, Micron, SanDisk, Western Digital Jump” – TradingKey https://www.tradingkey.com/analysis/stocks/us-stocks/262045441-oil-prices-chip-stocks-micron-sandisk-wdc-rising-sharply-tradingkey Accessed on 22 July 2026.

[5] “Stock Market Today (July 20, 2026): Iran worries derail Nasdaq, S&P 500 despite modest chip comeback” – TheStreet https://www.thestreet.com/stock-market-today/stock-market-today-dow-jones-sp-500-nasdaq-updates-july-20-2026 Accessed on 22 July 2026.

[6] “Stock market today: Live updates” – CNBC https://www.cnbc.com/2026/07/21/stock-market-today-live-updates.html Accessed on 22 July 2026.