social security

The Weekly Update

Week of November 10th, 2025
By Christopher T. Much, CFP®, AIF®

Stocks hit a rough patch last week as fresh labor market data, low consumer sentiment, and the ongoing government shutdown unnerved investors.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index declined 1.63 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index dropped 3.04 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 1.21 percent. The MSCI EAFE Index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, edged down 0.83 percent.

Nasdaq’s Toughest Week Since April
Stocks started the week mixed. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq each rose modestly, while the Dow Industrials fell.

Markets stabilized midweek after an ADP jobs report showed stronger-than-expected hiring by private employers in October. The report buoyed investor sentiment, pushing all three major averages higher.

However, stocks fell as investor concerns over stock valuations persisted, particularly among companies related to AI. Following a well-known outplacement firm’s report of a steep increase in corporate layoffs, selling pressure …

The Weekly Update

Week of November 3rd, 2025
By Christopher T. Much, CFP®, AIF®

Stocks rose last week as trade developments, positive Q3 corporate results, and momentum in megacap tech drove another rally, despite some cautious comments from the Fed.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index gained 0.71 percent, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index picked up 2.24 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.75 percent. By contrast, the MSCI EAFE Index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, fell 0.55 percent.

Stocks Up for Third Straight Week
Stocks rose over the first half of the week on news that Chinese and U.S. officials were working on a trade deal. Meanwhile, a rise in AI-related tech names lifted the broader market ahead of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting. All three major averages notched record closing highs for the first two days of the week, including the S&P 500 closing above 6800 for …

The Weekly Update

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

Stocks rose last week thanks to a full slate of upbeat third-quarter corporate results and mild inflation data, which helped soften concerns over trade tensions with China.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index gained 1.92 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index rose 2.31 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced 2.20 percent. The MSCI EAFE Index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, rose 1.24 percent.

S&P, Dow Set New Highs on Friday
Stocks rose out of the gate as optimism returned to markets. Strength in the tech sector—and whispers of an imminent end to the government shutdown—pushed all three market averages higher.

But the strong start turned mixed as some pressure on megacap tech stocks pulled down the Nasdaq. But while tech stocks regrouped, attention shifted to the Dow Industrials, which hit a record intraday high of 47,000 and a record …

The Weekly Update

Week of October 20th, 2025
By Christopher T. Much, CFP®, AIF®

Stocks pushed higher last week, buoyed by strong third-quarter results posted by several money center banks.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index gained 1.70 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index rose 2.14 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced 1.56 percent. The MSCI EAFE Index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, added 0.74 percent.

A Bumpy Week
Stocks rose to start the week after the White House shifted tone over the weekend on trade relations with China. Gains were broad-based—4 out of 5 stocks in the S&P 500 rose—with the index posting its best day since May 27.

Overnight, the specter of a revived trade war with China reemerged after the country placed sanctions on U.S. subsidiaries of South Korean shipbuilders in an apparent effort to increase its control over global shipping. Stocks opened sharply lower the next morning, and then …

The Weekly Update

Week of October 13th, 2025
By Christopher T. Much, CFP®, AIF®

Stocks fell last week amid concerns about trade with China, following an unsteady rally to record highs over the first half of the week.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index fell 2.43 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index declined 2.53 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slid 2.73 percent. The MSCI EAFE Index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, slipped 1.64 percent.

Stocks Set Highs Before Friday’s Drop
Stocks began the week mostly positive. However, Monday marked Day 6 of the government shutdown, and two of the three major averages powered through any bearish sentiment. The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq each advanced to record closes on fresh enthusiasm for mergers & acquisitions activity after the announcement of two deals. By contrast, the Dow fell slightly.

Stocks pushed higher midweek as investors looked past the Fed meeting minutes from September, which …

The Weekly Update

Week of October 6th, 2025
By Christopher T. Much, CFP®, AIF®

Stocks rose last week, looking past the government shutdown and apparently discounting any impact it may have on the economy.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index moved up 1.08 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index rose 1.32 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced 1.10 percent. The MSCI EAFE Index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, gained 2.53 percent.

Shutdown Talk
The S&P and Nasdaq rose out of the gate Monday morning despite the threat of a possible government shutdown hanging over investor sentiment.

As the midnight deadline approached for Congress to pass a continuing resolution that would temporarily fund the federal government, the prospect of a shutdown dominated market sentiment. The White House discussed permanent layoffs of some federal workers, stoking fears of further slowing an already sluggish labor market.

Stocks initially fell on news of the shutdown but recovered by …

The Weekly Update

Week of September 29th, 2025
By Christopher T. Much, CFP®, AIF®

Stocks fell last week, buffeted by concerns about stock price valuations and a possible government shutdown.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index declined 0.31 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index lost 0.65 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.15 percent. The MSCI EAFE Index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, fell 0.34 percent.

Stocks Under Pressure
The S&P 500 and the small-cap index Russell 2000 hit all-time intraday highs on Tuesday before trending lower. The decline turned into a three-day retreat for stocks.

Adding to the selling pressure was Federal Reserve Chair Powell, who made cautious comments on stock price valuations on Tuesday. Investors were also watching a possible government shutdown as Congressional budget deliberations appeared to stall.

It was the first time in six months that all three averages (Dow, S&P 500, and Nasdaq) declined over three consecutive sessions.

Stocks rebounded …

The Weekly Update

Week of September 22nd, 2025
By Christopher T. Much, CFP®, AIF®

Stocks posted solid gains last week, propelled by the Fed’s decision to cut short-term interest rates.
The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index rose 1.22 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index climbed 2.21 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced 1.05 percent. By contrast, the MSCI EAFE Index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, fell 0.27 percent.

Third Week of Gains for S&P, Nasdaq
Stocks advanced to start the week following the president’s positive comments on trade talks with China. The news helped push the S&P 500 to close above 6600 for the first time.

After the Fed announced on Wednesday that it was cutting short-term interest rates by a quarter percentage point, all three major averages fell before rising again in a choppy, mixed trading session.

After digesting the Fed decision, all three major averages posted solid gains on Thursday, paced by …

The Weekly Update

Week of September 15th, 2025
By Christopher T. Much, CFP®, AIF®

Stocks posted a solid gain last week, riding a rally in megacap tech stocks while overcoming interest rate anxiety, a downward revision to jobs data, and mixed inflation reports.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index rose 1.59 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index climbed 2.03 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.95 percent. The MSCI EAFE Index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, gained 1.18 percent.

Stocks At New Highs
Stocks rose to start the week on renewed AI enthusiasm, with the Nasdaq hitting a new record intraday high. Stocks continued to push ahead on Tuesday despite fresh data showing large downward revisions to job creation for the 12 months through March.

The rally continued midweek after an unexpected drop in wholesale inflation appeared to boost investors’ hopes for Fed rate moves before the year’s end.

Investors cheered Thursday’s consumer inflation …

The Weekly Update

Week of September 8th, 2025
By Christopher T. Much, CFP®, AIF®

Stocks made gains last week, even as megacap tech gains outweighed economic concerns.
The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index advanced 0.33 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index rose 1.14 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average descended 0.32 percent. The MSCI EAFE Index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, gained 0.04 percent.

Tech Gains, Jobs Slow
Markets started the week on shaky ground. The Dow Industrials, S&P 500, and Nasdaq each slipped downward more than half a percentage point. Tariff uncertainty rose again, as a court ruling injected fresh doubt. Meanwhile, rising Treasury yields amplified volatility and rattled megacap tech names.

By Tuesday, stocks managed a partial rebound, and market direction shifted. Tech bounced back the next morning—led by two megacap tech stocks’ gains—with one soaring after avoiding an antitrust penalty.

On Thursday, softer private hiring data and rising layoff trends fueled hopes …