Market Week: December 8, 2025
The Markets (as of market close November 5, 2025)
The stock market was largely driven by mixed labor data and optimism over a possible interest rate cut following the Federal Reserve’s meeting next week. Each of the benchmark indexes listed here ended last week higher, with AI stocks playing a significant role. The NASDAQ and small caps of the Russell 2000 led the way, while the S&P 500 approached a new record high. Information technology, energy, and consumer discretionary outperformed among the market sectors, while health care and utilities lagged. Bonds experienced a challenging week, with Treasury yields climbing over 10 basis points, as a selloff in bonds resulted in a drop in price. The latest inflation data (see below) showed consumer prices were up 0.8 percentage point over the Fed’s 2.0% target. Crude oil prices ticked up as concerns about global oversupply were offset somewhat by ongoing geopolitical tensions and the expectation for a rate cut by the Federal Reserve.
Market Week: December 1, 2025
The Markets (as of market close November 28, 2025)
Wall Street experienced a strong Thanksgiving week, largely erasing losses from the preceding volatile period. Increasing hopes of an interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve next month helped fuel the rally. After a shaky few weeks, tech stocks surged last week, driving the NASDAQ to its largest weekly gain in quite some time. As more economic data is released following the reopening of the federal government, investors are able to get a better grasp on the state of the economy. For instance, initial job claims fell, while durable goods orders and retail sales rose. However, producer prices also advanced, further evidence of escalating inflationary pressures. Each market sector ended last week with gains, led by consumer discretionary, communication services, materials, and information technology. The yield on 10-year Treasuries continued to slip as growing expectations of a rate cut help push bond prices higher, weighing on yields. Oversupply continued to drag crude oil prices lower.
Market Week: November 24, 2025
The Markets (as of market close November 21, 2025)
Volatility continued to characterize the stock market last week. Wall Street endured significant swings driven by a mix of key corporate earnings reports, important economic data following the government’s reopening, and shifting expectations for the Federal Reserve interest rate policy. Each of the benchmark indexes listed here ended the week in the red, unable to recover from a sharp midweek sell-off, despite a rally last Friday. Most of the negative market returns were within the consumer discretionary and information technology sectors. Communication services outperformed last week. Tech shares took a notable downturn last week, despite a favorable earnings report from a major AI/tech giant. The release of the September jobs report (see below), delayed due to the government shutdown, provided mixed signals on the state of the U.S. economy in general and Federal Reserve policy in particular. Better-than-expected job growth was offset by an increase in the unemployment rate, which reinforced the Fed’s dilemma regarding future interest rate cuts. The yield on 10-year Treasuries eased slightly, ending the week down eight basis points. Oversupply concerns drove crude oil prices to a four-week low.
Market Week: November 17, 2025
The Markets (as of market close November 14, 2025)
Last week was marked by the re-opening of the U.S. government after a prolonged shutdown. However,
despite a significant boost to the stock market at the beginning of the week, the positive momentum waned as the week progressed as investors were concerned about high valuation of AI stocks and uncertainty over Federal Reserve policy. The NASDAQ and the Russell 2000 ended the week in the red, while the S&P 500, the Dow, and the Global Dow closed higher. The AI sector, which has been a major market mover for much of the year, experienced significant volatility as investors worried about long-term sustainability. Health care, energy, and materials were market sector gainers, while consumer discretionary and communication services underperformed. Ten-year Treasury yields rose, likely reflecting reduced expectations for another interest rate cut at the next Federal Reserve meeting in December. Crude oil prices moved very little from the prior week as ongoing concerns surrounding increasing U.S. inventories and overproduction weighed on prices.
Market Week: November 10, 2025
The Markets (as of market close November 7, 2025)
The multi-week bull run ended last week, halted by a notable selloff of tech stocks. The NASDAQ
experienced a sharp correction, driven by concerns of overpricing and high valuations, particularly in the
technology sector. The S&P 500 suffered its worst week in a month, while the Russell 2000 and the Dow
also lost value. Most reporting S&P companies have exceeded profit estimates, but a few major companies disappointed, which weighed on market sentiment. Economic uncertainty, exacerbated by the ongoing government shutdown, appeared to further escalate investor concerns. Among the market sectors, information technology, communication services, and consumer discretionary fell the furthest, while health care, real estate, energy, and financials outperformed. Crude oil prices faced downward pressure, resulting in a drop in prices for the second straight week. The fall in crude oil prices was largely influenced by surging U.S. inventories, an increase in production by OPEC+, and a price cut by Saudi Arabia.
Market Week: November 3, 2025
The Markets (as of market close October 31, 2025)
Stocks moved generally higher last week, largely driven by solid corporate earnings from some big tech firms. The S&P 500 and the NASDAQ each reached record highs during the week, extending a significant rally. The push higher was moderated somewhat by the Federal Reserve’s cautious stance on future rate cuts. Despite a lack of updated economic information, the Fed identified concerns about the potential for a weakening job market and stubbornly elevated inflation rates. While trade tensions between the U.S. and China were tempered following a meeting between President Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping, analysts cautioned that underlying issues still had not been resolved. Following last week’s interest rate cut, U.S. Treasury yields rose sharply, extending a three-session rally that pushed the 10-year Treasury yield to a three-week high. Despite an early-week rally, crude oil prices dipped lower last week, primarily due to concerns of global oversupply and increased production.
Market Week: October 27, 2025
The major stock market indexes continued to climb last week, with the S&P 500 and the NASDAQ reaching new record highs. Investors were buoyed by a strong start to the third-quarter earnings season, particularly for major banks, with most companies reporting better-than-expected earnings and profits. On the global front, the announcement of a meeting between the United States and China muted concerns surrounding trade tariffs. While consumer prices rose in September, the advance was softer than expected, bolstering hopes for an interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve following its meeting this week. Among the market sectors, information technology and communication services were the leading performers. Ten-year Treasury yields were generally lower last week, dipping below 4.0%. Gold prices, which had been on a notable rally, declined last week, largely due to profit-taking and a reduction in safe-haven demand. Crude oil prices were volatile throughout the week, falling to their lowest levels in months, only to surge later in the week after the U.S. sanctioned two major Russian oil firms.
Market Week: October 20, 2025
Last week saw another period of volatility in the stock market, largely driven by U.S.-China trade tensions, the ongoing government shutdown, and concerns over the health of the banking sector. Despite market swings throughout the week, stocks ultimately pushed higher by week’s end, with each of the benchmark indexes listed here posting gains. The financial sector was a major source of volatility last week after reports of loan issues related to alleged fraud at some regional banks sparked credit concerns. However, stronger-than-expected third-quarter earnings data from some major banks helped quell investor consternation. The 10-year Treasury yields dipped below 4.00% midweek before climbing later in the week. Crude oil prices declined for the third straight week, while gold prices surged past $4,300.00 per ounce earlier in the week before settling at nearly $4,250.00.
Market Week: October 13, 2025
The Markets (as of market close October 10, 2025)
Wall Street was marked by volatility throughout last week. Major indexes, particularly the S&P 500 and the NASDAQ, reached new record highs earlier in the week, driven by an advance in AI stocks and favorable corporate earnings reports. However, the market endured a significant selloff last Friday, reversing much of the week’s earlier gains. Investor sentiment turned negative following a threat by President Trump to impose a “massive increase in tariffs” on Chinese imports, reigniting fears of a trade war. As a result, the S&P 500 declined following a seven-day winning streak. The Dow also declined, while the NASDAQ saw the sharpest losses, with tech shares among the biggest decliners. The government shutdown continued into its second week, increasing uncertainty and delaying the release of key economic data. Ten-year Treasury yields fell below 4.10%, while gold prices climbed above $4,000.00 per ounce, a jump that could be a sign of investor anxiety over deficits and potential inflation.
Market Week: October 6, 2025
The Markets (as of market close October 3, 2025)
Investor optimism over AI companies and expectations of interest rate cuts helped propel stocks last week. The S&P 500, the Dow, and the NASDAQ reached record highs despite the government shutdown, which caused delays in the release of key economic data (see below). In addition to surging AI stocks, major tech and chip stocks also drove the market. Information technology and health care led the market sectors, while energy showed weakness due to slumping crude oil prices. Ten-year Treasury yields eased slightly during the week, partially due to uncertainty over the employment sector. Bearish crude oil prices were dragged lower by expectations of a production increase by OPEC+.