The S&P 500 index edged down 0.1% this week but ended August trading with a 1.9% monthly climb. The benchmark index closed at 6,460.26 on Friday, the final trading day of the month. While this marked a slight decline from a week prior and snapped its weekly winning streak, the index still recorded its fourth consecutive monthly gain. It is now up 4.1% for the quarter and 9.8% for the year. Data this week showed US consumer spending rose in July at the fastest pace since Marc

The S&P 500 index rose 0.3% this week as investors grew more hopeful for a rate cut at the next meeting of policy makers at the Federal Reserve. The market benchmark ended the week at 6,466.91, making its third consecutive week in the black. It is now up 2% for August and nearly 10% for the year to date. The S&P 500 had been on track to snap its weekly winning streak as of the close of trading on Thursday, but turned positive on Friday following comments from Federal Reserve

The S&P 500 index rose 0.9% this week, scaling new peaks in four consecutive trading sessions, as the probability of an interest-rate cut in September remained elevated following divergent inflation reports. The S&P 500 ended Friday's session at 6,449.80, bringing quarter-to-date gains to 4%, and year-to-date growth to 9.7%. Following a weaker-than-expected non-farm payrolls report last Friday and a surprise drop in the Institute for Supply Management's US services index, th

The S&P 500 index fell 2.4% this week as payrolls data missed forecasts.   The index ended Friday's session at 6,238.01, and is up 6.1% this year. The S&P rose 2.2% in July, its third consecutive monthly gain.   Nonfarm payrolls rose by 73,000 in July, according to data released Friday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, missing the consensus estimate compiled by Bloomberg for a 104,000 increase. The unemployment rate increased to 4.2% in July, in line with the market view.  

Dear Friends, Most weeks, I take a look at the past week and write about what’s happening in the market, along with key economic indicators and a chart of the week that takes a deeper dive into something you might not see elsewhere. Here we go…   Market Recap - Week of July 21  - July 25, 2025   The  S&P 500  index rose 1.5% this week to another closing record in a broad advance led by the health care sector.   The index ended Friday's session at 6,388.64, its highest closing

Dear Friends, Most weeks, I take a look at the past week and write about what’s happening in the market, along with key economic indicators and a chart of the week that takes a deeper dive into something you might not see elsewhere. Here we go…   Market Recap - Week of July 14  - July 18, 2025   The S&P 500 index edged up 0.6% this week, ending close to the record high in a technology-led advance. The market benchmark finished the week at 6,296.79, just below the 6,297.36 re

Dear Friends, Most weeks, I take a look at the past week and write about what’s happening in the market, along with key economic indicators and a chart of the week that takes a deeper dive into something you might not see elsewhere. Here we go…   Market Recap - Week of July 7  - July 11, 2025   The S&P 500 index edged down 0.3% this week amid the Trump administration's latest tariff threats.   The S&P 500 ended Friday's session at 6,259.75, slightly below record highs it had

Dear Friends, The S&P 500 index rose 1.7% this week to another record closing high as June jobs data came in above expectations.   The market benchmark ended Thursday's abbreviated session at 6,279.35, its highest-ever closing level. This marked the end of the trading week as the US stock market closed several hours earlier than usual on Thursday and will remain closed on Friday for Independence Day.   On Tuesday, the S&P 500 locked in a 5% gain for June, marking its second c

Dear Friends, The S&P 500 index rose 3.4% this week to new highs, led by the communication services and technology sectors. The S&P 500 ended Friday's session at a record closing high of 6,173.10. The market benchmark also recorded a fresh intraday high during Friday's session at 6,187.68. With just one trading session remaining in June, the S&P 500 is now up 4.4% for the month and 5% for the year. The gains came as the US and China confirmed details of a trade framework tha

Dear Friends, The S&P 500 index edged down 0.2% this week as gains in the energy, technology, and financial sectors were outweighed by declines elsewhere.   The market benchmark ended Friday's session at 5,967.84. It is now up 1% for the month and 1.5% this year.   The Federal Reserve on Wednesday kept its benchmark lending rate unchanged for a fourth straight meeting while sticking to its federal funds rate outlook for 2025 amid higher inflation expectations. Policymakers co

Dear Friends, The S&P 500 index rose 1.9% this week, capping the biggest month of gains since November 2023. It ended Friday's session at 5,911.69, pushing its May increase to 6.2%. The index is now up 0.5% this year. This year, the market has fluctuated along with the Trump Administration's trade policies. Stocks fell in February, March, and April as tariffs were threatened and added, and then rose in May as some levies were reduced and trade agreements were reached. Still,

Dear Friends, The S&P 500 index fell 2.6% this week, pushing the market benchmark back into the red for the year, amid a fresh round of tariff threats from the Trump administration. The market benchmark ended the week at 5,802.82. The measure remains in positive territory for May with a month-to-date gain of 4.2%, but it is now down 1.3% for the year. A relief rally last week had put the S&P 500 in the black for the year for the first time since February. The year-to-date gai

The S&P 500 index rose 5.3% this week in a broad climb that pushed the market benchmark back into positive territory for the year. The market benchmark ended Friday's session at 5,958.38 and is now up 7% for the month and 1.3% for 2025. The week started with a relief rally as the Trump administration unveiled a trade deal with China just days after announcing another such deal with the UK. The deal between the US and China calls for a 90-day suspension of reciprocal duties on

The S&P 500 index rose 2.9% this week as April jobs data came in above expectations. The market benchmark ended Friday's session at 5,686.67.   However, the S&P slipped 0.8% in April, marking its third consecutive monthly decline. The index is down 3.3% for the year on worries about the impacts of the Trump administration's economic policies, particularly the ongoing trade war with several countries including China.   Data released Friday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics sho

The  S&P 500  index rose 4.6% this week, led by technology stocks amid better-than-expected earnings from a number of companies in the sector, including Google parent Alphabet ( GOOGL ,  GOOG ).   The S&P 500 ended Friday's session at 5,525.21. The index is still down 1.5% for the month and 6.1% this year on concerns about the economic impacts of the ongoing trade war between the US and several countries, including China. Both Chinese officials and US President Donald Trump,

It was another choppy week for markets on the heels of the prior week's historic rally.   The S&P 500 index fell 1.5% this week as declines in technology, consumer discretionary, and communication services outweighed gains in other sectors.   The S&P 500 finished Thursday (markets are closed for Good Friday) at 5,282.70. The index is in the red for the month, down 5.9% for April and 10% from where it ended 2024.   US President Donald Trump called for the termination of Federa

As you know, stocks plunged the week before when the White House announced new tariffs on trade partners. On Monday and Tuesday, however, there were small rallies despite investors' prevailing concern regarding the state of the global economy. Stocks closed Monday up 0.2%, the first green day since the sell-off started the prior Thursday. Tuesday started with a much stronger push, opening up almost 4%. The rally would be short-lived, however, with the market taking back all t