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The Weekly Update
Week of August 4th, 2025
By Christopher T. Much, CFP®, AIF®
Stocks fell last week as investors assessed progress on trade negotiations, new U.S. tariffs, and fresh data on the U.S. economy.
The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index fell 2.36 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index declined 2.17 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 2.92 percent. The MSCI EAFE Index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, lost 2.95 percent.
Action-Packed Week
Stocks largely went sideways over the first half of the week as investors waited for more Q2 corporate results, fresh economic data, and the Fed decision.
The U.S.-E.U. trade agreement announced over the weekend had a muted impact on the market as the week began. Stocks then retreated as China trade talks appeared to stall, with the Dow declining the most of the three major averages through midweek.
Stocks gained on Wednesday morning after the latest gross domestic product (GDP) report …
