Wall Street closes higher, boosted by healthcare as investors shrug off jobs data, US shutdown

Wall Street closes higher, boosted by healthcare as investors shrug off jobs data, US shutdown

By Sinéad Carew and Niket Nishant

Wed October 1, 2025 4:38 PM  

The groundwork had already been laid for a boost in healthcare stocks when Trump announced yesterday he had a deal with drugmakers to lower their prices for Medicaid. Today that modest boost was apparently all investors cared about as sentiment returned today to brush off the government shutdown and even ignore a weak payrolls report that showed 85,000 fewer jobs than forecast. To be fair, history is on our side. According to Deutsche Bank, the markets have historically been resilient during closures, the S&P rising in each of the last six shutdowns.  

Wall Street indexes close higher with quarterly and monthly gains even as US government shutdown looms

Wall Street indexes close higher with quarterly and monthly gains even as US government shutdown looms

By Sinéad Carew and Niket Nishant

Tue September 30, 2025 4:59 PM  

It was a mixed bag today with all of the indexes spending most of the day in the red before rallying around 1:30 to regain all the lost ground and even close modestly up. But to end Q3, it was almost all upbeat news with the S&P and Dow with five straight monthly gains and the Dow and Nasdaq with two quarters of gains. The Dow was down some 200 twice during the session but the others stayed pretty close to the vest until 1:30. Although yesterday’s trading indicated that investors weren’t particularly concerned about tonight’s potential shutdown, today sentiment changed with more serious concerns that this particular shutdown could cause considerable damage to the economy.  

Wall Street indexes climb as investors brush off government shutdown uncertainties

Wall Street indexes climb as investors brush off government shutdown uncertainties

By Sinéad Carew and Niket Nishant

Mon September 29, 2025 4:42 PM

After last Wednesday’s good real estate report and Friday’s good PCE, investor sentiment has suddenly shifted with investors largely shrugging off the upcoming obstacles – an upcoming government shutdown and doubts about more rate cuts. Today’s attitude was that there won’t be a shutdown and that, despite the cautionary notes re inflation, there will be another rate cut in November, the odds now priced at 89%, and this optimism pushed the indexes modestly higher. AI once again ruled the day, with a 3-digit increase in the Nasdaq.  

Wall Street ends higher after as-expected inflation data; S&P 500, Nasdaq post weekly declines

Wall Street ends higher after as-expected inflation data; S&P 500, Nasdaq post weekly declines

By Caroline Valetkevitch

Fri September 26, 2025 6:42 PM

The indexes got a nice little boost today, after two days of cautionary selling, when the PCE report came in with an annualized 2.7% increase in prices, exactly in line with expectations. The better news was an unexpected and welcome increase in personal income and consumer spending. The Dow gained almost 300, the Nasdaq 100. Despite the good news, after three weeks of gains, all indexes showed losses for the week, but only modestly, averaging less than ½ of 1%.  

Wall Street indexes finish lower, data raises uncertainty for rate-cut outlook

Wall Street indexes finish lower, data raises uncertainty for rate-cut outlook

By Caroline Valetkevitch

Thu September 25, 2025 5:18 PM

With the new uncertainty of the past couple of days of whether the Fed will do any more rate cuts this year, the markets once again went south, though some experts attribute this to yet another day of simply trimming back on overblown valuations. The good news is that unemployment claims are down modestly but other reports show that the economy has continued to grow and even more than expected which is bad news on the inflation front. 

Equities end lower as valuation concerns creep in​

Equities end lower as valuation concerns creep in​

By Chuck Mikolajczak

Wed September 24, 2025 6:14 PM

Something happened at 11 a.m. that sent the whole market into a tailspin, the Dow into a 3-digit loss and the Nasdaq not much better. The likely trigger was yet again Powell who made the comment, oft presented previously but now just in case you don’t believe me -- valuations are way too high and that more rate cuts would only make them go higher. All the indexes have seen record highs in recent days and the S&P alone is trading at multiples of 23-24, numbers not seen in years, with projected annualized earnings growth of 15% over the next five years.

Wall Street indexes end lower as investors digest Powell comments

Wall Street indexes end lower as investors digest Powell comments

By Caroline Valetkevitch

Tue September 23, 2025 4:02 PM

The market was ripe for a pullback and Powell provided the trigger when he reiterated the Fed positions stated yesterday that the central bank needs to get back to focusing on inflation. Offering no further clues on future rate cuts left investors to interpret the comments that there might not be. That combined with profit-taking from Nvidia that lost 2.8% today after yesterday’s big jump and tech had nowhere to go but down, down by 3-digits. Powell also emphasized how highly valued equities are, another hint that we’re ripe for a pullback, especially after all the recent record highs. Volume remained brisk at 18.9 billion, above the 17.6 average. 

DJ: 46,381.54  +66.27       NAS: 22,788.98  +157.50     S&P: 6,693.75  +29.39        9/22

DJ: 46,292.78  -88.76        NAS: 22,573.47  -215.50      S&P: 6,656.92  -36.83         9/23

Tue 9-23-25 4:02 pm Wall Street indexes end lower as investors digest Powell comments | Reuters

Wall St indexes post record closing highs again, with Nvidia, tech shares higher

Wall St indexes post record closing highs again, with Nvidia, tech shares higher

By Caroline Valetkevitch

Mon September 22, 2025 4:00 PM  

It was another shot straight, especially for tech, as all three indexes once again achieve new record highs. This was despite the fact that several Fed governors went on the record today stating that the single rate cut would be sufficient and there shouldn’t be any more, exactly the opposite of market sentiment. But the real boost came from Nvidia committing to a $100B investment in OpenAI. There are worries about Trump’s new visa fees which are very opposed by the tech giants. There is also concern about the high market valuations and that “markets appear to be kind of ignoring potential headwinds.” Per the CBOE, volume ran at 18.6 billion, above the 17.4 average.  

DJ: 46,315.27  +172.85      NAS: 22,631.48  +160.75      S&P: 6,664.36  +32.40       9/19

DJ: 46,381.54  +66.27        NAS: 22,788.98  +157.50      S&P: 6,693.75  +29.39       9/22

Mon 9-22-25 4:00 pm Wall St indexes post record closing highs again, with Nvidia, tech shares higher | Reuters

Wall St closes higher with indexes notching weekly gains

Wall St closes higher with indexes notching weekly gains

By Abigail Summerville and Purvi Agarwal

Fri September 19, 2025 4:36 PM  

For the third day after the rate cut, investors continued digesting the news and its implications and after some initial hesitation from around 10 – 11:30, sentiment changed to feeling good about the Fed changing the inflation target and heating things up a little more would be good for stocks. That started another wave of buying that had the Dow and Nasdaq in nice 3-digit gains again. Additionally, there was the sentiment that small caps move inversely to rates so those stocks will benefit disproportionately from the rest of the market to this rate cut.  

Wall Street indexes notch record-high closes as Intel soars on Nvidia stake

Wall Street indexes notch record-high closes as Intel soars on Nvidia stake

By Abigail Summerville and Sukriti Gupta

Thu September 18, 2025 4:25 PM

On the day following the long awaited ¼ point rate cut, investors have begun digesting the good news and its long-term implications and shot all the indexes up substantially, both the Dow and Nasdaq into 3-digits again. Also boosting the market was the $5B stake Nvidia has made in Intel, shooting the entire chip index up 3.6% and the S&P tech index 1.36%.  It was one very good up day but, as today’s expert noted, “We are looking for support for economic growth and justification of stretched valuations and the prospect of lower interest rate helps that.” Yes, it helps, but time will tell. Volume again was considerably elevated, coming in at 19.3 billion vs 16.67 average.  

DJ: 46,018.32  +260.42      NAS: 22,261.33  -72.63       S&P: 6,600.35  -6.41        9/17

DJ: 46,142.42  +124.10      NAS: 22,470.73  +209.40    S&P: 6,631.96  +31.61     9/18

Thu 9-18-25 4:25 pm Wall Street indexes notch record-high closes as Intel soars on Nvidia stake | Reuters

Wall Street ends mixed, trade choppy after Fed's rate cut, outlook

Wall Street ends mixed, trade choppy after Fed's rate cut, outlook

By Abigail Summerville and Purvi Agarwal

Wed September 17, 2025 4:48 PM  

The market not only got everything it was hoping for but then some, with the ¼ point cut certainly now done but also a fairly direct statement from Powell that there would likely be two more cuts before year-end, which was the ideal that was hoped for. But since the ¼ point cut was already priced in, there wasn’t much to move the needle so at least tech stayed close to flat most of the session with monies flowing back to the Dow and boosting it 250+ points. But then everything went nuts right at 2 pm, first way up (the Dow over 500), then way down until 3 pm (the Dow losing 550+), then way up again in the next that hour to close at +260. What’s going on?

Wall St ends lower as investors turn cautious ahead of Fed rate decision

Wall St ends lower as investors turn cautious ahead of Fed rate decision

By Abigail Summerville and Sukriti Gupta

Tue September 16, 2025 4:33 PM

As is often the case on the eve of a major event, even when the days leading up had big optimistic rallies, the markets decided to turn cautious today to hedge bets in the unlikely event that they don’t get the desired news tomorrow. All three indexes spent almost all day in the red, the Dow down more than 200 at 10 a.m., but tech stayed relatively flat and closed near flat, which makes sense for a day waiting at the starting gate. Since a rate cut will benefit mostly tech, it also makes sense that money was moving out of industrials.  

Wall Street indexes end higher ahead of Fed meeting; Tesla and Alphabet rally

Wall Street indexes end higher ahead of Fed meeting; Tesla and Alphabet rally

By Abigail Summerville and Ragini Mathur

Mon September 15, 2025  4:47 PM

The Dow had a rough and tumble day skirting back and forth between black and red but mostly close to break-even and still closing with a modest gain. The S&P and Nasdaq both had terrific days zooming right up at open and staying there all day, all on the eve of the September Fed meeting during which there is a huge expectation of a rate cut. But it’s not that simple as per today’s expert, “The market is counting on sort of a goldilocks scenario where the employment market is just weak enough to prompt the Federal Reserve to start a rate cutting series, not just one, without disrupting overall growth. The markets will be disappointed if the Fed doesn’t give some hint that they intend to continue rate cuts.” In a couple of days, we’ll know. Meanwhile, the hot anticipation is reflected in today’s volume which came in at 17.68 billion, above the 16.2 billion average. 

DJ: 45,834.22  -273.78      NAS: 22,141.10  +98.03      S&P: 6,584.29  -3.18         9/12

DJ: 45,883.45  +49.23       NAS: 22,348.75  +207.65    S&P: 6,615.28  +30.99      9/15

Mon 9-15-25 4:47 pm Wall Street indexes end higher ahead of Fed meeting; Tesla and Alphabet rally | Reuters

Nasdaq notches record high close, traders look to Fed meeting

Nasdaq notches record high close, traders look to Fed meeting

By Noel Randewich and Ragini Mathur

Fri September 12, 2025  4:23 PM

After yesterday’s big rally, investors took a breath today with profit-takers hitting industrials and tech getting yet another boost with the Nasdaq hitting yet another record. With strong evidence now that the job market has been weakening for some time, the bets are now for three more rate cuts before year-end, starting with next week. This was further bolstered today with U of M Consumer Sentiment falling for the second straight month.  

Wall Street indexes post record-high closes; Tesla and Micron rally

Wall Street indexes post record-high closes; Tesla and Micron rally

By Noel Randewich and Purvi Agarwal

Thu September 11, 2025 6:19 PM

All three indexes zoomed straight up right out the gate and stayed there all day, posting strong 3-digit gains. All three indexes registered record highs, even the Dow this time with a jump of a huge 617 points. As I suggested yesterday, it seems that whatever the reports said vis-à-vis inflation was going to be taken as good news. Yesterday, PPI showing inflation cooling caused a rally and today CPI showing inflation getting hotter caused an even bigger rally.  

S&P 500 and Nasdaq notch record-high closes as Oracle soars on AI optimism

S&P 500 and Nasdaq notch record-high closes as Oracle soars on AI optimism

By Noel Randewich and Ragini Mathur

Wed September 10, 2025 4:40 PM

Well, the PPI report came in great showing inflation cooling off more than expected, immediately sending tech way up and the Dow way down, though almost immediately both tech indexes started a decline that led to losing almost all gains by close but still closing modestly up. Yesterday the consensus seemed to be for inflation to be up which would hurt the labor market even more so the Fed would be motivated to cut rates. Today, with inflation being down, everyone is happy since the cooling is what the Fed needs to cut rates.  

Wall Street indexes notch record high closes, investors bet rate cut

Wall Street indexes notch record high closes, investors bet rate cut

By Noel Randewich

Tue September 9, 2025 5:35 PM

The exuberant optimism over the expected rate cut next week extended into yet another day today as all three indexes once again climbed, the Dow a second day at 3-digits, in fact all three registering new records at close. Complementing this was a new report today sharply reducing the number of jobs for the 12 months from March 2024 down 911,000 which suggests the job market began weakening last year.  

Nasdaq notches record high close; traders focus on rate cuts

Nasdaq notches record high close; traders focus on rate cuts

By Noel Randewich and Purvi Agarwal

Mon September 8, 2025 4:51 PM  

It was a rocky day but at least all three indexes did close in the green with the Nasdaq posting a new record and the Dow gaining 3-digits. This is all in hot anticipation of the expected rate cut coming next week. In fact, confidence is so high that the odds are now betting on three cuts before year-end, and even some bets that next week’s cut will be ½ point, though many analysts don’t buy this. There does seem to be a consensus that the Fed is no longer interested so much in inflation as in the weakening labor market. Inflation is being written off as tariff-related and therefore temporary and not as important regarding policy. The S&P is up 10% for the year, the Nasdaq 13%. At 16.2, volume is just a tad above the 16.1 billion average. 

DJ: 45,400.86  -220.43      NAS: 21,700.39  -7.31        S&P: 6,481.50  -20.58          9/5

DJ: 45,514.95  +114.09     NAS: 21,798.70  +98.31     S&P: 6,495.15  +13.65         9/8

Mon 9-8-25 4:51 pm Nasdaq notches record high close; traders focus on rate cuts | Reuters

Wall Street indexes end lower as jobs data fuels economic worries

Wall Street indexes end lower as jobs data fuels economic worries

By Caroline Valetkevitch

Fri September 5, 2025 6:24 PM

It was another day of panic as investors played another game of tug-of-war debating the pros and cons between a softening job market virtually guaranteeing a rate cut and a softening job market hurting the economy. The latter half sort of won out as the indexes, after briefly breaking new records in the first half hour almost immediately began sinking seriously into the red until having an 11^th hour recovery for at least the S&P and Nasdaq to close near even. The Dow didn’t do as well but still managed to recover from a 400 point loss to close at half that. The trigger of course was a badly disappointing jobs report which came in a whopping 70% lower than forecast.  

S&P 500 registers record-high close as data keeps rate cut views intact

S&P 500 registers record-high close as data keeps rate cut views intact

By Caroline Valetkevitch

Thu September 4, 2025 4:55 PM  

All three indexes enjoyed a big triple-digit shot straight up today as labor market data ahead of Friday’s big labor report showed unemployment rising with hiring slowing, exactly the conditions that will ripen the Fed to do that much anticipated rate cut on 9/17. The odds today stand at a virtual certain 95%. The excitement was enough to send the S&P to still another record high and Powell has already indicated that, unless Friday’s report is “really, really out of bounds,” that rate cut is coming. Tomorrow may well tell the story of whether yesterday’s expert was right in predicting that our usual down Septembers will be avoided because of this cut. Volume ahead of the report was again modestly muted at 14.68 vs the average of 16.07 billion. 

DJ: 45,271.23  -24.58       NAS: 21,497.73  +218.10     S&P: 6,448.26  +32.72       9/3

DJ: 45,621.29  +350.06    NAS: 21,707.69  +209.97     S&P: 6,502.08  +53.82       9/4

Thu 9-4-25 4:55 pm S&P 500 registers record-high close as data keeps rate cut views intact | Reuters

Nasdaq, S&P 500 end higher with Alphabet, Apple, rate-cut hopes; Dow dips

Nasdaq, S&P 500 end higher with Alphabet,

Apple, rate-cut hopes; Dow dips

By Caroline Valetkevitch

September 3, 2025  4:52 PM 

Today’s good news was the court ruling that Google could not be broken up, thereby assuring investors of not only protection for Google’s industry position but also Apple’s for the business it does with Google, specifically lucrative payments to the iPhone maker. That added to the now 96% odds for a rate cut on 9/17 and tech had a very good day, zooming up 3-digits on the Nasdaq. The Dow had a reversal of fortune which often happens on tech’s good days, dropping as low as a 300 point loss as late as 3:30 before zooming back up to near break-even.  

Wall Street ends lower as ruling on Trump tariffs raises concerns

Wall Street ends lower as ruling on Trump tariffs raises concerns

By Caroline Valetkevitch

Tue September 2, 2025 6:55 PM

It was not a good day. If there’s one thing the market doesn’t like it’s uncertainty and this weekend’s appeals court ruling striking down most of Trump’s tariffs have introduced a whole new layer of uncertainty into the equation. Questions abound – will this ruling stand and trigger another big correction or be overturned by a higher court in which case we’re back where we started? Does the ruling mean that Trump has alienated our trading partners? All this caused massive disruption, with the Dow down 600 points at open, and bouncing around all day to close at a 249 point loss, with the other indexes following an almost identical pattern.  

S&P 500 ends lower as Dell and Nvidia drop

S&P 500 ends lower as Dell and Nvidia drop

By Noel Randewich

Fri August 29, 2025 4:22 PM

It was a straight shot down triple-digits for tech from the outset that stayed that way all day, the Dow doing a little better reaching a low of a minus 260 by 11 a.m. but then recovering the rest of the day to close just 92 down. It was a third day for losses for Nvidia when, though it did very well, failed to meet the impossible expectations that investors brought to the game. Dell and other AI stocks also fell. As today’s expert noted, “Today is just weakness in the top of the market, in tech. This is not the first time that we’ve had some worries about over-investment in AI.” 

S&P 500, Dow score record high closes as Nvidia results buttress AI rally

S&P 500, Dow score record high closes as Nvidia results buttress AI rally

By Noel Randewich

Thu August 28, 2025 6:41 PM  

All the indexes started the day in the red but at least tech didn’t stay there long as both the S&P and Nasdaq started an immediate rebound enjoying recovery all day and closing nicely in the black. The Dow wasn’t so lucky, spending half the day in the red, down some 120 points by 10 a.m. but finally broke even after noon and managed to squeeze out a 71 point gain by close. Of course, as has been mentioned all week, the trigger for all this was Nvidia which mystified traders last night by losing ground even though it turned in a report exceeding estimates and also forecast strong Q3 revenues. But as it turned out, it didn’t exceed estimates by enough and that’s what caused the downfall, which thankfully was modest.  

S&P 500 notches record close; traders turn to Nvidia results

S&P 500 notches record close; traders turn to Nvidia results

By Noel Randewich

Wed August 27, 2025 4:59 PM  

Today has been all about Nvidia. And they didn’t even report yet, that due after the bell. But yesterday’s pessimism turned into optimism today with everyone expecting a stellar Q2. In fact, today’s expert really went over the top with his enthusiasm, “Nvidia is going to produce humongous revenue gains over the next nine months, op top of an already humungous revenue base. Investors should prepare themselves for a world where Nvidia is a double-digit percentage of the S&P 500.”  So all three indexes were on an upward trajectory all day, if only modestly, except the Dow which was more than modest in the 3-digits.  

S&P 500 ends higher after Trump attacks Fed; Nvidia climbs

S&P 500 ends higher after Trump attacks Fed; Nvidia climbs

By Noel Randewich

Tue August 26, 2025 5:17 PM  

The three indexes ran more or less flat until about 2 pm, dampened by Trump’s interference in the Fed’s independence which is deeply concerning to the markets. But after 2 pm, focus was redirected to the likelihood of the September rate cut which triggered more buying and left all three closing respectably in the black. The sentiment seems to be that the moves to replace Fed governors in order to force more cuts is not only illegal but unnecessary since the trajectory of rate cuts has already been established.  

Wall Street ends down as traders focus on Nvidia, Fed after last week's rally

Wall Street ends down as traders focus on Nvidia, Fed after last week's rally

By Noel Randewich

Mon August 25, 2025 4:19 PM

 Friday’s jubilation lasted a single day as today the markets returned to their customary cautionary mode with the Dow sinking like a rock but tech doing a little better, the Nasdaq in the green for much of the day if only modestly, all on speculation of waiting for the hoped-for glowing Nvidia Q2 report due this week. Nvidia makes up a whopping 8% of the S&P as the world’s most valuable company and thus has everyone on pins and needles as the common investor who has the S&P index as a major part of a retirement portfolio will be taking a hit if Nvidia turns out to be in trouble.  

Dow notches record high as Wall Street cheers Powell's speech

Dow notches record high as Wall Street cheers Powell's speech

By Shashwat Chauhan, Sanchayaita Roy and Carolina Mandl

Fri August 22, 2025 4:34 PM

Really, Jerome Powell didn’t say anything that he hasn’t said before, namely that rate cuts were needed but that they must be data-dependent and the Fed must proceed with caution. But today, the very fact that he didn’t come right out and say no to a September rate cut but instead “hinted” that it was possible sent the markets into a state of elation with a huge rally not seen in recent months, the Dow up a whopping 846 (a new record), the Nasdaq an equally whopping 396. It was enough to boost the odds of a September cut from 75% before the speech to 90% afterwards.  

Wall Street closes down as investors brace for Powell's speech

Wall Street closes down as investors brace for Powell's speech

By Johann M Cherian, Sanchayaita Roy and Carolina Mandl

Thu August 21, 2025 6:11 PM  

The entire day was one big spiral down on all three indexes, mainly because investors are bracing for hawkish comments from Powell tomorrow. So pessimistic are they of a dovish stance that the odds of a September rate cut are now actually in doubt after being considered a sure thing for such a long time now, and the odds on this single day have been suddenly slashed a whopping 21 points from 99.9% last week to 79% today.  

Nasdaq, S&P 500 end lower as investors sell tech, buy less pricey sectors

Nasdaq, S&P 500 end lower as investors sell tech, buy less pricey sectors

By Johann M Cherian, Sanchayaita Roy and Carolina Mandl

Wed August 20, 2025 5:07 PM

The rotation away from highly overvalued tech stocks to quality undervalued stocks in other sectors continued today but not without its bumps as choppy trading dominated, the Dow down 150 at one point, the Nasdaq down 400. Everybody’s looking to Powell’s remarks at Jackson Hole on Friday and to more of the major retailers reporting in the next two days to gauge the health of consumer spending and by extension the health of the economy.  

Nasdaq tumbles as Jackson Hole jitters hit tech stocks

Nasdaq tumbles as Jackson Hole jitters hit tech stocks

By Johann M Cherian, Sanchayaita Roy and Carolina Mandl

Tue August 19, 2025 4:44 PM

There appears to be a fair amount of skepticism about a positive result coming from Jackson Hole later this week so today saw a big sell off in tech as a cautionary move. Meanwhile the Dow hit a new record early in the morning before beginning a decline and losing all but 10 points of its gains by close. There may have been a rationale behind the tech sell-off though as mentioned by today’s expert being that some stocks have become overweighted so there is now rotation back into others.  

Wall Street ends on muted note ahead of Jackson Hole summit, retailers' earnings

Wall Street ends on muted note ahead of Jackson Hole summit, retailers' earnings

By Johann M Cherian, Sanchayaita Roy and Carolina Mandl

Mon August 18, 2025 4:57 PM

Just like last Monday, there’s a whole lot coming down the pike this week. Some real heavy hitters like Walmart and Target are reporting Q2 and the Fed’s annual symposium at Jackson Hole has everyone in wait-and-see mode. There’s also today’s bad news of no concrete outcome in the Ukraine peace talks, the housing market index falling to its lowest since December 2022, and though there is still a virtual 100% expectation of a ¼ point rate cut next month, the odds of more cuts later this year have today been lowered.  

Dow ends higher after UnitedHealth gains, other indexes slip on rate cut

Dow ends higher after UnitedHealth gains, other indexes slip on rate cut uncertainty

By Saeed Azhar, Johann M Cherian and Sanchayaita Roy

Fri August 15, 2025 4:20 PM  

Both the Nasdaq and S&P spent the whole day in the red, the Dow spent the whole day in the green. The push down on tech was the continuing uncertainty over tariffs, inflation, and rate cuts. The push up on the Dow was Warren Buffett dramatically upping his stake in United Health, which made that stock soar and the rest of industrials followed suit. Besides United Health, the day’s dynamics included July retail sales rising but counterbalanced by falling consumer confidence and factory production, both again attributed to tariffs.  

Wall Street ends flat, but S&P hits another closing high as rate-cut bets waver

Wall Street ends flat, but S&P hits another closing high as rate-cut bets waver

By Saeed Azhar, Johann M Cherian and Sanchayaita Roy

Thu August 14, 2025 4:27 PM  

Yesterday’s ebullience was squashed today by a hot PPI report showing producer prices have surged to a 3 year high. This squelched the optimism about rate cuts for the rest of the year, though a ¼ point September rate cut is still very much on the books. However, the steeper rate cuts for the final three months of the year are now in considerable doubt. All three indexes all went well into the red, the Dow down some 230 by 1 pm, tech having similar difficulties. The lesson coming from today’s PPI is that prices have not only risen because of the tariffs but are now expected to keep rising as the duty impact proceeds to reveal itself.  

S&P 500, Nasdaq hit new closing highs on rate cut hopes

S&P 500, Nasdaq hit new closing highs on rate cut hopes

By Saeed Azhar, Johann M Cherian and Sanchayaita Roy

Wed August 13, 2025 4:24 PM  

All three indexes started the day way up and though the Dow stayed that way, almost immediately the tech indexes started falling, losing everything around 1 pm but starting a gradual recovery to have modest gains at close. But even the modest gains gave them a second straight day of record highs as the market remains ebullient over the weak economic data, especially inflation staying steady, now virtually guaranteeing a rate cut next month. There’s a case to be made that valuations are very high so everyone was just taking their profits out of tech after yesterday’s big rally.  

S&P 500, Nasdaq end at record closing highs as moderate inflation lifts rate hopes

S&P 500, Nasdaq end at record closing highs as moderate inflation lifts rate hopes

By Saeed Azhar, Johann M Cherian and Sanchayaita Roy

Tue August 12, 2025 4:29 PM

CPI came in barely changed monthly while annual inflation data even came in a bit lower than estimates. This greatly bolstered confidence that there will be a September rate cut and sent all the indexes straight up. September cut odds now up to a whopping 88.8%. But there are possible consequences of a rate cut at this time. “This is still early innings of this process and just as the Fed will be beginning to cut rates in the autumn, that’s when the inflation data will probably start to be registering some of these more direct tariff price increases and it’s going to complicate the rate-cutting decision.” 

Wall Street stocks end down, inflation data, China trade in focus

Wall Street stocks end down, inflation data, China trade in focus

By Saeed Azhar, Johann M Cherian and Sanchayaita Roy

Mon August 11, 2025 4:27 PM

All three indexes took a dip ahead of inflation reports coming Tuesday to once again gauge rate cut expectations but still optimistic that recent weak labor data will prompt the Fed to cut. However, inflation is expected to remain sticky since tariff impacts are just beginning to show and will only continue to increase. It’s a two-edged sword as commented by today’s expert that the tariffs are only going to increase inflation but “lower inflationary readings and slower growth numbers are needed to support the case for lower rates."  

Nasdaq posts record closing high with tech gains, rate cut optimism

Nasdaq posts record closing high with tech gains, rate cut optimism

By Caroline Valetkevitch

Fri August 8, 2025 5:12 PM  

Just as yesterday was a path straight down, today was a path straight up with the Dow and Nasdaq climbing to 3-digit gains, the Nasdaq at another new record close for the second day and the S&P just shy of another. It could be just another day of bargain hunting or it could be investors still reacting to yesterday’s good news from Apple. Add to that the spate of weak economic data which now has the market giddy over a virtual certainty of a September rate cut.  

S&P 500 eases with Eli Lilly; Nasdaq manages record closing high

S&P 500 eases with Eli Lilly; Nasdaq manages record closing high

By Caroline Valetkevitch

Thu August 7, 2025 5:00 PM

All three indexes started the day well into the black, especially tech where the Nasdaq reached another record high, but then all quickly began a decline, the S&P and Dow almost immediately in the red, the Dow heading to a 3-digit loss, and the Nasdaq bouncing back into the black at the 11^th hour for a modest gain. There are several things that could trigger today’s sell off, not the least of which were dozens of new tariffs that took effect today, plus Trump’s choices for replacing the departing Fed Gov.

Nasdaq leads gains on Wall Street, helped by Apple

Nasdaq leads gains on Wall Street, helped by Apple

By Caroline Valetkevitch

Wed August 6, 2025 4:00 PM

Contrary to Friday, there was nothing but good news today, starting with Apple committing to $100B of domestic manufacturing along with a slew of positive Q2 reports. With 4/5 of the S&P having now reported, earnings continue to exceed forecasts with 80% beating estimates vs a 76% average. One Fed prez has said that rate cuts need to come soon which has now skyrocketed the odds for a September cut to 95.2% vs 46.7% just a week ago.  

Wall Street ends lower as investors consider tariff impact on results, economy

Wall Street ends lower as investors consider tariff impact on results, economy

By Caroline Valetkevitch

Tue August 5, 2025 4:57 PM

After yesterday’s huge rally, investors took a pause today with all indexes closing modestly in the red. With today’s Q2, tariffs are very much back on the front-burner due to the fact that company after company, though turning in good reports, are also issuing warnings that duties are already increasing costs and are trimming their forecasts for Q3 and Q4. Company after company is warning that higher costs are just going to keep going higher resulting in higher prices and fewer sales, thus lower revenues and profits. More Q2 from major companies like Disney and McDonalds coming Wednesday. Q2 is winding down and though it’s been largely positive with 80% of companies beating estimates, the overall message is that it’s not going to last. We’re heading for a poor second-half.  

Indexes end up 1%; investors ramp up rate-cut views after weaker payrolls

Indexes end up 1%; investors ramp up rate-cut views after weaker payrolls

By Caroline Valetkevitch

Mon August 4, 2025 4:00 PM

This is what makes Wall Street so much fun. The consensus this weekend was that the very poor Friday performance would be extended into today. Instead the opposite happened with the exact same pattern as Friday only in the black instead of the red and with all three indexes recovering almost all of Friday’s losses. Ironically, all that really changed today was attitude. Friday there was a panic over data showing the labor market was weaker than previously believed. The glass was half empty.  

Stocks slump on latest tariffs, soft jobs data

Stocks slump on latest tariffs, soft jobs data

By Chuck Mikolajczak

Fri August 1, 2025 4:37 PM

There wasn’t anything much to like today which sent the market straight down out the gate into very weighty 3-digit losses all around where all three indexes remained all day. There was the disappointing Amazon report, Apple despite a good Q2 nevertheless forecasting $1 billion in additional costs coming due to tariffs, a very bad jobs report as well as sharply reduced jobs data from last time showing the job market suffering and apparently no longer as resilient as thought. Add on to that dozens of new tariffs announced, Trump firing the head of Labor Statistics since the data does not support his positions, and a Fed governor announcing an early exit leaving Trump more maneuvering room to dump Powell.  

Equities stall as early enthusiasm ebbs; Amazon, Apple earnings due

Equities stall as early enthusiasm ebbs; Amazon, Apple earnings due

By Chuck Mikolajczak

Thu July 31, 2025 4:27 PM

Yesterday’s very late surge did indeed continue this morning with all the indexes going into the green. Even the Dow being so heavily in the red yesterday managed to reach break-even today, but the tech indexes surged dramatically this morning, the Nasdaq gaining over 300 points, before all the indexes began a steady decline to all close in the red, the Dow down 3-digits again. So what happened? Even though there were a lot of positive Q2 reports today, there were more negative ones, especially in the AI sector where a lot of companies suddenly appear to be suffering.  

Equities retreat as Powell dampens Fed Sept cut hopes

Equities retreat as Powell dampens Fed Sept cut hopes

By Chuck Mikolajczak

Wed July 30, 2025 4:31 PM

There was a lot of positive news today with the Fed reporting that the economy remained on good footing, two of the four remaining Mag 7’s put in good Q2 with the other two coming tomorrow, solid Q2 from a number of consumer firms pointed to shopper resilience, private payrolls came in way above forecasts, and Q2 GDP, after being negative in Q1, went right back to last year’s 3% level. But today, none of that mattered. Instead all eyes were on Powell when he announced this afternoon that it was too soon to comment on a September rate cut and that current policy, though modestly restrictive, was not holding the economy back.  That is exactly not what the market wanted to hear.  

Equities close lower as earnings weigh; Fed statement on tap

Equities close lower as earnings weigh; Fed statement on tap

By Chuck Mikolajczak

Tue July 29, 2025 4:23 PM

A few major Q2 reports came in on the downside today and the whole market slid with the three indexes spending almost all day in the red, the Dow down 3-digits. UPS sinking over 10% after once again declining to report forecasts sent a challenging message of how badly the continuously changing trade policy is messing with the company and, by extension, the economy as a whole. Earnings are mixed and there hasn’t been enough positive economic data to move the needle with the Fed.  

S&P, Nasdaq again close at record highs, trade choppy

S&P, Nasdaq again close at record highs, trade choppy

By Chuck Mikolajczak

Mon July 28, 2025 4:32 PM

Yesterday’s newly announced trade deal with the EU should have sent the markets soaring today but instead it was greeted with cautious optimism with erratic trading in which both the S&P and Dow spent most of the afternoon in losses. As today’s expert put it, “It’s feel-good in the sense that it doesn’t represent Armageddon, if the draconian tariffs went into place. But it’s much too soon to pass judgment on the long term effects on how it will play out, It’s better than the alternative, to be sure so I hope they continue.” It also didn’t help that certain EU member nations are against the deal, with France at the front of the line denouncing it as a “submission.”  

S&P 500, Nasdaq close at records; Deckers soars on UGG demand

S&P 500, Nasdaq close at records; Deckers soars on UGG demand

By Noel Randewich

Fri July 25, 2025 4:22 PM

Based on continued optimism over completing trade deals, especially now with the EU as they plan to meet with Trump on Sunday for more talks. This lead more movement straight up, especially on the Dow where 2/3 of yesterday’s losses were recovered, but also modest gains on both the S&P and Nasdaq, thus putting both once again at record levels. All three indexes posted very respectable gains for the week from 1% to 1.5% with the S&P hitting a new record each day, something that hasn’t happened on any index for nearly four years.  

S&P 500 and Nasdaq notch record closes, lifted by Alphabet

S&P 500 and Nasdaq notch record closes, lifted by Alphabet

By Noel Randewich and Pranav Kashyap

Thu July 24, 2025 4:29 PM

A very strong Q2 report from Google, attributed again to AI, boosted all of tech and especially the other Magnificent Seven. Both indexes were up most of the day, the Nasdaq up around 100 as late as 3:30 p.m. but then both it and the S&P fell suddenly in the final half hour but still closing with modest gains. Besides the good Q2 reports and renewed optimism about trade agreements, unemployment claims came in lower than expected once again clarifying the resilience of the labor market.  

S&P 500 and Nasdaq rally to record highs on optimism about trade deals

S&P 500 and Nasdaq rally to record highs on optimism about trade deals

By Noel Randewich and Nikhil Sharma

Wed July 23, 2025 4:17 PM

Yesterday the mood on The Street was dimmed by a lack of confidence in trade deals what with India going sour and the EU planning counterstrikes. Today all that changed radically 180 with a trade deal announced with Japan and greatly increasing confidence of a similar deal coming soon with the EU. It was a shot straight up on all three indexes with the Dow and Nasdaq into very impressive 3-digit gains and both the Nasdaq and S&P reaching still new records.

S&P 500 notches record-high close; GM slumps as tariffs bite

S&P 500 notches record-high close; GM slumps as tariffs bite

By Noel Randewich and Pranav Kashyap

Tue July 22, 2025 4:17 PM

It was a day of consolidating recent gains as all three indexes opened low, especially tech with the Nasdaq losing over 200 by 10 a.m., but then all three gradually recovering with the S&P barely closing flat but the Nasdaq all day in the red. The Dow industrials were in the black all day though quite flat all morning before gaining in the afternoon and closing up 3-digits. GM had a rotten day announcing a $1B write-off from tariffs and the aerospace and defense stocks also took big hits.  

S&P 500 and Nasdaq notch record high closes, lifted by Alphabet

S&P 500 and Nasdaq notch record high closes, lifted by Alphabet

By Noel Randewich and Nikhil Sharma

Mon July 21, 2025 4:29 PM

Stoked by an anticipated glowing report from Google (due Wednesday) and also more Magnificent Seven reports later this week, all the indexes shot way up throughout the day, the Dow up over 250 points, until about 2 pm when they all started plummeting to close at a near wash. But tech was still in positive territory which also meant the S&P and Nasdaq had still one more record close. For the year, the S&P is up 7%, the Nasdaq 9%. S&P Q2 earnings are expected to increase by 6.7% and the good news so far is that companies have met or beaten guidance.  

S&P, Nasdaq end on subdued note after brief dip on latest Trump tariff rumbling

S&P, Nasdaq end on subdued note after brief dip on latest Trump tariff rumbling

By David French

Fri July 18, 2025 4:56 PM

 

It was a pretty flat day from beginning to end for tech anyway as investors tried to grapple once again with the latest tariff threats. The Dow industrials went straight south though ending down 3-digits. This was the week that would either prove or disprove the harmful effects of the tariffs. But the week ended quite mixed with overall sentiment being that the markets have grown wary of the tariff debate.  

S&P 500, Nasdaq end at fresh record highs as data, earnings point to consumer strength

S&P 500, Nasdaq end at fresh record highs as data, earnings point to consumer strength

By David French

Thu July 17, 2025 4:37 PM

After two days of tepid economic and Q2 reports failed to inspire much confidence regarding inflation, today the reports turned very much positive with strong Q2 from companies like PepsiCo and with Netflix coming in with both barrels after the bell. There was also TSMC, the world’s largest AI chipmaker, with a record quarterly profit thus boosting not only the whole AI sector but also all of tech.

Wall Street ends up, after brief downward detour on Powell firing confusion

Wall Street ends up, after brief downward detour on Powell firing confusion

By David French

Wed July 16, 2025 4:43 PM

The day started as a near-disaster as all the indexes took a big dive right around 11 a.m., the Dow down nearly 300 points, but it only lasted about 30 minutes before a rebound began. The trigger was a brief leak of news reports that Trump was ready to fire Jerome Powell which created a momentary panic over losing the independence of the Fed and the subsequent damage that would do to the economy. No matter that that independence meant that Trump had no authority to do any such thing any more than he has the authority to fire Hakeem Jeffries. There was still a panic but after only ½ hour, Trump himself issued a statement that the reports were false and he had no such intention, though this did not stop him from continuing his attacks on Powell for not lowering rates fast enough.  

Nasdaq posts latest record close on Nvidia's China chip cheer

Nasdaq posts latest record close on Nvidia's China chip cheer

By David French

Tue July 15, 2025 4:00 PM

Some very good news from Nvidia that sent the Nasdaq to still another record close and had the index way up in the morning, but still not nearly good enough to offset the first of the week’s economic reports and Q2 which showed, contrary to hopes, that inflation was up and that tariffs were the reason, the first concrete evidence of the tariff effect. It sent all the indexes on a downward slope for the entire session with the Dow in substantial triple-digit losses and the Nasdaq losing almost all of its gains for the day.  

Wall Street ends with modest gains as investors await economic reports

Wall Street ends with modest gains as investors await economic reports

By David French

Mon July 14, 2025 4:00 PM

 

Once again, all the indexes started the day in the red but quickly began a rebound to spend most of the rest of the session in the black, even carving out modest gains all around by close. But it was mostly a day for holding close to the vest as the market continues to sidestep the latest tariff threats and stay on the fence awaiting an onslaught of new reports this week, not the least of which is the beginning of Q2 reporting. As today’s expert put it, “If anything is holding the market back, it’s the fact we’ve had a pretty good run since April.”  

S&P 500 recedes from record highs as tariffs sour sentiment

S&P 500 recedes from record highs as tariffs sour sentiment

By Noel Randewich and Pranav Kashyap

Fri July 11, 2025 4:00 PM

For the last few days, the market has been relatively complacent about tariffs. That all changed radically today with the announcement of still more tariffs with the trade war once again intensifying with Canada, the EU, Brazil and a number of other countries. Tariff and inflation anxiety is right back on the front page again. But no worries. When the Q2 reports start coming in next week, if they reveal as the market hopes that tariff impact has been minimal, and if the S&P earnings have increased by 5.7% as expected, then the bulls will start running again.  

Indexes rise, boosted by Nvidia record valuation, strong Delta forecast

Indexes rise, boosted by Nvidia record valuation, strong Delta forecast

By Sinéad Carew and Pranav Kashyap

Thu July 10, 2025 6:15 PM

It was pretty much a shot straight up on all the indexes except for the Nasdaq which began the day heavily in the red but began a recovery around 10 a.m. and continued on the rise breaking even around 1 pm and gaining 19. But it was another handsome 3-digit gain on the Dow. Since both the S&P and Nasdaq had already registered new record highs, today was yet another record high for both. Major boosts today came from Delta which issued its yearly profit forecast which exceeded estimates and provided some more optimism.  

Wall Street rises as Fed minutes put rate cuts in focus, Nvidia hits $4 trillion milestone

Wall Street rises as Fed minutes put rate cuts in focus, Nvidia hits $4 trillion milestone

By Sinéad Carew and Pranav Kashyap

Wed July 9, 2025 4:56 PM

Any objective reading of today’s market events would have to lead to the conclusion of very mixed signals. But today the market instead chose to focus on the positive signals and ignore the negative, thus pushing all the indexes into very respectable 3-digit gains. On the one hand, the Fed said that inflation is expected to get worse. On the other, the tariff impact is expected to be minor but, despite the headline reading “Fed Minutes Put Rate Cuts in Focus,” there really was no change.

Wall St stocks edge lower as investors look for tariff clarity

Wall St stocks edge lower as investors look for tariff clarity

By Sinéad Carew and Pranav Kashyap

Tue July 8, 2025 4:37 PM

On this second day as the market continues to digest the Great Tariff Shock, the indexes took another dive and to say trading was choppy would be a vast understatement as all three were up and down a dozen times or more throughout the session. Tech fared considerably better than industrials with the Dow dropping 3-digits but really the only reason losses have not been much greater is because no one on Wall Street believes these tariffs are actually going to hold, as has been the trend. There will continue to be much volatility until investors get much wanted clarity on the trade negotiations. The Fed minutes come Wednesday which will be parsed for clarity on inflation and rate cuts. Volume remains below average at 17.03 billion vs 18.3 billion. 

DJ: 44,406.36  -422.17       NAS: 20,412.52  -188.59      S&P: 6,229.98  -49.37        7/7

DJ: 44,240.76  -165.60       NAS: 20,418.46  +5.95         S&P: 6,225.52  -4.46          7/8

Tue 7-8-25 4:37 pm Wall St stocks edge lower as investors look for tariff clarity | Reuters

Wall St knocked lower by tariff jitters; Musk's political plan hits Tesla

Wall St knocked lower by tariff jitters; Musk's political plan hits Tesla

By Sinéad Carew and Pranav Kashyap

Mon July 7, 2025 4:42 PM

On Thursday, trade wars and budget bill concerns all went on the back burner, way back on the burners, with the excitement over the terrific jobs report. In fact, on Thursday, the tariff issues were widely considered to be in the rearview mirror. So what a difference a day makes. Today, with the announcement of new hefty tariffs on Japan, South Korea and others, as well as Tesla taking a major dive with Musk forming the all-new “America Party” to further challenge Trump, all three indexes also took a major dive.  

S&P 500, Nasdaq close at records on jobs data; Nvidia market cap nears $4 trillion

S&P 500, Nasdaq close at records on jobs data; Nvidia market cap nears $4 trillion

By Sabrina Valle

Thu July 3, 2025 4:39 PM

Today was once again proof that, on Wall Street, nobody knows anything. It was just yesterday that the consensus was a strong desire for a weak jobs report as that would likely mean sooner rate cuts. Instead, it was a terrific jobs report with 33% more jobs than forecast and the unemployment rate falling more than expected. This was supposed to be a downer but instead triggered a big rally with investors quickly deciding to look past the rate cut issue and instead focus on the exuberant news of a healthy jobs market and healthy economy. Tariffs, budget bill, inflation, national debt and all other worrying issues also went on the backburner today.

S&P 500, Nasdaq close on record high on Vietnam trade deal, tech stocks

S&P 500, Nasdaq close on record high on Vietnam trade deal, tech stocks

By Sabrina Valle

Wed July 2, 2025 5:02 PM

After yesterday’s report showing job gains in May had been higher than previously reported, thus being one contributing factor boosting the market, this morning another report showed lower than expected new jobs in June, thus opening all three indexes in the red. However, news of a trade deal with Vietnam quickly reversed course and at least the trade-sensitive tech indexes saw a continuous rise all day. And, as usual, when tech goes up industrials go down and the Dow was in the red almost all day but landed comfortably flat by close.

Nasdaq, S&P 500 close lower, weighed by tech stocks, Dow ends up

Nasdaq, S&P 500 close lower, weighed by tech stocks, Dow ends up

By Sabrina Valle

Tue July 1, 2025 5:33 PM

For years now, there have been concerns that with a handful of tech companies that dominate the market, should they go south, could crash the market out. That was the sentiment today as both the Nasdaq and S&P pulled back substantially from their recent rallies. And as tech goes south so industrials go north as funds flow out of risky assets into safer havens and the Dow had another very big 3-digit day. Investors were playing a tug-of-war between the concentration in tech and optimism over expected stimulus from the new budget bill, but also weighing that against the enormous cost of the bill.