Daily Brief · August 24
SPY opens +0.41% to 765.72 as VIX edges up to 15.93; Treasury Sec Bessent speaks at 14:00 ET.
Overnight Tone
Futures carried a modestly constructive tone into Monday's open, with SPY printing 765.72 against Friday's close of 762.60. The VIX moved from 15.13 to 15.93 overnight, a measured uptick that suggests participants are adding a thin layer of protection ahead of a data-heavy week rather than expressing outright concern. Asia and Europe sessions were orderly with no dislocating prints.
Pre-Market Levels
SPY is indicated up approximately 0.41% from the prior close of 762.60, settling at 765.72. The VIX at 15.93 remains in a low-to-moderate regime historically associated with contained realized volatility, though the 0.80-point overnight rise warrants attention. Options traders should note that even modest VIX expansion at these levels can reprice near-term premium meaningfully.
Calendar Watch
Treasury Secretary Bessent speaks at 14:00 ET (Medium impact, USD).
Read for the Open
With no high-impact U.S. data scheduled until later in the week, the first 30 minutes will likely be driven by order flow and positioning rather than a catalyst reaction. Watch how SPY handles the 765.72 level on the open; any gap-fill behavior back toward 762.60 would be informative. Bessent's 14:00 ET remarks are the primary scheduled risk event for today's session.
Educational content only. Trade your plan.
Members read it at 7:00 am ET on August 24, 2026 - before the session it describes. Three written briefs every market day, plus stock and options alerts with entry, stop and targets stated up front.
See membership options