0DTE Market Map: SPY, QQQ, IWM & AMZN — September 17, 2026

The 0DTE tape

The session of September 16, 2026, was characterized by intraday selling pressure across the board, with SPY, QQQ, IWM, and AMZN all closing below their respective opening prices. SPY led the decline relative to its open at -0.71%, followed closely by AMZN at -0.91% from its open, while QQQ showed relative resilience but still finished negative at -0.46% from its open.

This downward shift follows a series of challenging setups in the Whalor 0DTE ledger. Recent setups on September 14 and 15—such as the SPY Bullish opening drive reversal on September 15 and multiple Bearish opening drive/range retest setups on IWM and SPY—resulted in stopped-out trades or time stops. This sequence highlights a choppy environment where intraday direction has struggled to sustain momentum beyond key boundaries.

The following levels from the September 16 session serve as the structural framework for the upcoming session's scenario map.

SPY levels

• Prior High: 761.67
• Prior Low: 749.60
• Prior Close: 754.10
• Session VWAP: 756.23
• Opening 30-Minute Range: 758.72 – 760.43

QQQ levels

• Prior High: 711.88
• Prior Low: 700.00
• Prior Close: 704.75
• Session VWAP: 706.98
• Opening 30-Minute Range: 707.64 – 710.25

IWM levels

• Prior High: 287.04
• Prior Low: 281.03
• Prior Close: 283.93
• Session VWAP: 284.82
• Opening 30-Minute Range: 285.61 – 286.98

AMZN levels

• Prior High: 249.26
• Prior Low: 244.30
• Prior Close: 245.84
• Session VWAP: 246.94
• Opening 30-Minute Range: 246.69 – 249.26

Scenarios for the next session

Bullish Confirmation Scenarios

For a bullish bias to establish validity in the upcoming session, buyers must reclaim and hold key structural anchors from the September 16 session.

• SPY: Acceptance above the prior close of 754.10, followed by a sustained reclaim of the session VWAP at 756.23. Further bullish confirmation requires a push into the opening 30-minute range (758.72 – 760.43), targeting the prior high of 761.67.
• QQQ: A clean breakout above the prior close of 704.75 and session VWAP of 706.98. Continued upward structure would be confirmed by price acceptance inside the opening 30-minute range (707.64 – 710.25) and a test of the prior high at 711.88.
• IWM: Reclaiming the prior close of 283.93 and holding above the session VWAP of 284.82. Strength is confirmed if price trades back into the opening 30-minute range (285.61 – 286.98) toward the prior high of 287.04.
• AMZN: Reclaiming the session VWAP of 246.94 and establishing support above the lower bound of the opening 30-minute range at 246.69, opening the path toward the prior high of 249.26.

Bearish Confirmation Scenarios

For a bearish bias to govern the session, sellers must defend the prior session's overhead supply and drive prices below established support levels.

• SPY: Failure to reclaim the prior close of 754.10 or a rejection at the session VWAP of 756.23. Bearish continuation is confirmed if SPY breaks and holds below the prior low of 749.60.
• QQQ: Rejection at the prior close of 704.75 or the session VWAP of 706.98. A break beneath the prior low of 700.00 confirms downward expansion.
• IWM: Inability to break above the session VWAP of 284.82, followed by a breakdown below the prior close of 283.93. Sustained bearish momentum is confirmed on a clean break below the prior low of 281.03.
• AMZN: Rejection of the prior close at 245.84 or the session VWAP of 246.94. Bearish confirmation is achieved if price breaks and holds below the prior low of 244.30.

This market map is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice or a guarantee of future market performance.

Verified prior-session levels

• $SPY: open 759.50, high 761.67, low 749.60, close 754.10 (-0.71% from open), VWAP 756.23, opening 30m range 758.72-760.43.
• $QQQ: open 708.00, high 711.88, low 700.00, close 704.75 (-0.46% from open), VWAP 706.98, opening 30m range 707.64-710.25.
• $IWM: open 285.63, high 287.04, low 281.03, close 283.93 (-0.60% from open), VWAP 284.82, opening 30m range 285.61-286.98.
• $AMZN: open 248.10, high 249.26, low 244.30, close 245.84 (-0.91% from open), VWAP 246.94, opening 30m range 246.69-249.26.