Monthly Archives: July 2025

The Weekly Update

Week of July 21st, 2025
By Christopher T. Much, CFP®, AIF®

Stocks were mixed last week, battling through tariff talk while responding to upbeat quarterly corporate reports and a trove of updates on the economy.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index rose 0.59 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index added 1.51 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average decreased 0.07 percent. The MSCI EAFE Index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, skidded 0.46 percent.

Economic News
All three major market averages posted modest gains to start the week as investors appeared to shrug off tough talk on trade from the White House over the weekend.

Stocks mostly fell after news that inflation warmed up a bit last month albeit in line with economists’ expectations. A narrow, chip-led rally developed after a megacap chipmaker said it received assurances from the White House of its ability to sell products in China, pushing the Nasdaq modestly …

The Weekly Update

Week of July 14th, 2025
By Christopher T. Much, CFP®, AIF®

Stocks were slightly lower last week, while looking past news of fresh U.S. tariffs on nearly two dozen countries.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index fell 0.31 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index edged lower by 0.08 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 1.02 percent. The MSCI EAFE Index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, slipped 0.43 percent.

The Return of the Tariffs
Stocks started the week lower after the White House posted letters to 14 countries announcing new tariffs set to take effect August 1. They included 25 percent tariffs on South Korea and Japan.

Stocks dropped briefly midweek after the White House announced tariffs on seven additional countries. But as investors digested the news, markets gradually recovered, hoping the administration would dial back its steepest tariff rates again.

Markets also rallied on fresh AI trade enthusiasm and the latest …

The Weekly Update

Week of July 7th, 2025
By Christopher T. Much, CFP®, AIF®

Trade developments and continued momentum pushed all three major averages to modest gains again for a shortened holiday trading week.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index rose 1.72 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index added 1.62 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced 2.30 percent. The MSCI EAFE Index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, increased 0.19 percent for the week through Thursday.

Stocks Gain on Trade Developments
Stocks continued their momentum from the prior week’s records following Canada’s rescinding of its digital services tax, rising on optimism as investors waited for more news on trade.

The S&P 500 and Nasdaq took a breather on July’s first trading day, while the Dow Industrials posted a modest gain. Then, stocks rallied after the news of the trade deal with Vietnam, moving past the latest ADP employment report, which showed reduced jobs last …