Inflation

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 …

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 …