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The Weekly Update

Week of June 30th, 2025
By Christopher T. Much, CFP®, AIF®

Stocks staged a broad-based rally last week on investors’ hopes for a lasting Middle East ceasefire, hitting fresh record highs along the way.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index rose 3.44 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index added 4.25 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced 3.82 percent. The MSCI EAFE Index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, increased 3.04 percent.

Stocks Push Higher
Last week opened with a rally powered by news of a tamer-than-expected escalation of tensions in the Middle East. Stocks continued their rise after this week’s ceasefire agreement, although Wall Street appeared concerned about whether the truce would remain in place.

Sentiment brightened after the White House played down the approaching July 8th tariff deadlines. Solid corporate earnings, a still-strong labor market, and a recovery in artificial intelligence-related stocks provided some underlying strength to the rally.

As the …

The Weekly Update

Week of June 23rd, 2025
By Christopher T. Much, CFP®, AIF®

Stocks were mixed during the holiday-shortened trading week as uncertainty over conflict in the Middle East weighed on investors.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index slipped by 0.15 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index rose by 0.21 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was flat (+0.02 percent). The MSCI EAFE Index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, declined 1.54 percent.

Stocks Rise, Then Slump
Stocks opened higher, and oil prices fell at the start of the week as investors hoped Middle Eastern tensions would ease.

However, as investors parsed through updates on the conflict, stocks fell over ongoing uncertainty. Conflicting statements from those involved, as well as from world leaders, contributed to the uncertainty.

Midweek, stocks rallied ahead of the Fed’s interest rate decision. Markets seemed to dismiss news that housing starts dropped unexpectedly to their lowest level in five years.

The Fed …

The Weekly Update

Week of June 16th, 2025
By Christopher T. Much, CFP®, AIF®

Stocks fell last week as an up-and-down mix of trade progress and anxiety, economic news, and geopolitical tensions netted out.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index slid 0.39 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index slipped 0.63 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 1.32 percent. The MSCI EAFE Index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, edged down 0.18 percent.

Trade, Geopolitics Dominate Sessions
Stocks largely languished for the first half of the week as investors awaited news from U.S.-China trade talks and key inflation reports.

Sentiment began to rise late Tuesday afternoon following upbeat comments about trade talks. Most of the market gains came before the U.S. and China separately announced the trade update, with little reaction when markets opened the next day.

Stocks peaked midweek, then declined despite a May report showing consumer inflation rose less than expected. Markets then trended …

The Weekly Update

Week of June 9th, 2025
By Christopher T. Much, CFP®, AIF®

Stocks rallied last week as investors responded to upbeat economic data and easing trade tensions.
The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index added 1.50 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index rose 2.18 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced 1.17 percent. The MSCI EAFE Index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, picked up 0.78 percent.

S&P 500 Closes Above 6,000 (Again)
Early in the week, markets notched steady gains as investors awaited key economic indicators and monitored ongoing trade discussions. Megacap tech names—particularly AI chipmakers—led the broader market higher, as sentiment stayed bullish on prospects for a U.S.-China trade deal.

Midweek, however, concerns over tariffs and a notable decline in one megacap tech stock slowed overall market momentum. Recent conversations between the U.S. and Chinese leadership helped investors envision progress toward a trade deal between the two nations.

On Friday, stocks pushed higher …

The Weekly Update

Week of June 2nd, 2025
By Christopher T. Much, CFP®, AIF®

Stocks advanced over the short trading week, bolstered by a possible trade deal with the European Union (EU) and an upbeat corporate report from a mega-cap tech company that creates semiconductors used in the creation of artificial intelligence.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index rose 1.87 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index popped 2.01 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced 1.60 percent. The MSCI EAFE Index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, inched up 0.84 percent.

EU Trades Spark Stocks
On Monday, stocks bolted out of the gate on news that the European Union agreed to speed up trade talks with the U.S. By the end of the session, the S&P 500 and Nasdaq posted gains north of 2 percent.

Stocks fell following Wednesday’s release of minutes from the Fed meeting in May, which showed Fed officials are cautious. Some …

The Weekly Update

Week of May 27th, 2025
By Christopher T. Much, CFP®, AIF®

Stocks moved lower last week as fiscal fears and fresh tariff threats loomed over market sentiment.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index fell 2.61 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index dropped 2.47 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slid 2.47 percent. The MSCI EAFE Index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, advanced 1.14 percent.

Stocks Slip
On Monday, stocks were under a bit of pressure after credit rating agency Moody’s downgraded the U.S. as an issuer of government bonds.

Stocks remained under pressure midweek as Treasury yields moved higher with the 30-year bond hit a 19-month high. Investors fretted about the budget deficit; some feared the deficit would be made worse by the spending bill winding its way through Congress. After the House of Representatives approved the bill, bond yields backed off their highs and stocks went sideways.

On Friday, stocks dropped …

The Weekly Update

Week of May 19th, 2025
By Christopher T. Much, CFP®, AIF®

Stocks roared higher last week, powered by upbeat trade news and tame inflation reports.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index rose 5.27 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index spiked 7.15 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 3.41 percent. The MSCI EAFE Index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, increased 0.80 percent.

S&P, Dow Erase YTD Losses
Stocks pushed higher on Monday as investors cheered weekend news that the U.S. and China temporarily agreed to back off steep reciprocal tariffs.

Then, a mild inflation report for April—the slowest annualized Consumer Price Index (CPI) reading in four years—boosted markets on Tuesday. Tech stocks powered the rally as the S&P 500 closed trading in the green for the year.

Markets closed the week with modest gains, largely looking past weak consumer sentiment data released on Friday.

Friday was the Dow’s turn to erase year-to-date losses …

The Weekly Update

Week of May 12th, 2025
By Christopher T. Much, CFP®, AIF®

Stocks were mixed last week as volatility dropped despite ongoing trade concerns and the Federal Reserve’s update on short-term rates.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.16 percent, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index lost 0.47 percent. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index slipped 0.27 percent. The MSCI EAFE Index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, fell 0.37 percent.

Stocks Go Sideways
Stocks dropped on Monday, ending the S&P 500’s 9-day winning streak as the trade anxiety weighed on investors.

Sentiment picked up midweek, however. In a widely expected move, the Fed held short-term interest rates steady but warned of lingering uncertainty around tariffs’ effects on inflation and unemployment.

On Thursday, the U.S.-U.K. trade deal sparked a slight rally, but stocks flattened as the week ended. Investors appeared to be risk-averse with U.S.-China trade talks scheduled for the weekend.

The Fed Fans Out
The …

The Weekly Update

Week of May 5th, 2025
By Christopher T. Much, CFP®, AIF®

Stocks pushed higher last week as investors cheered the White House’s constructive comments on trade, upbeat Q1 corporate reports, and an encouraging jobs report.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index gained 2.92 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index rose 3.42 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 3.00 percent. The MSCI EAFE Index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, advanced 2.56 percent.

Longest Winning Streak in 20 Years
During the first two trading days, stocks increased as investors responded favorably to White House comments on tariff deals.

Then midweek—on the last day of the month—fresh data showed the economy contracted by 0.3 percent in Q1—the first decline in gross domestic product (GDP) in three years. Stocks initially fell on the news but staged a stunning recovery to add a seventh day to the S&P 500’s and Dow Industrial’s winning streaks.

Q1 corporate …