Market Highlights
Market highlights
2025-06-20
Oil trimmed earlier gains and equity futures remained lower after White House press secretary
Karoline Leavitt said President Trump will decide within two weeks whether to back Israel militarily
in its conflict with Iran. The remarks offered some short-term clarity but did little to resolve broader
uncertainty around potential US involvement and the risk of renewed energy-driven inflation.
S&P 500 contracts slipped 0.9% in thin holiday trading. Europe’s Stoxx 600 dropped 0.8%, falling for
a third straight session. Asian equities declined 1.4%, with losses concentrated in Japan and South
Korea.
West Texas Intermediate rose 0.7% to $75.8 a barrel. Brent crude advanced past $78 a barrel,
extending gains in a week where market reaction to the Middle East conflict has been most
concentrated in oil. The dollar was little-changed against a basket of currencies, after paring earlier
gains.
2025-05-21
Wall Street’s rally took a breather on Tuesday, with stocks falling as traders awaited fresh catalysts
after a six-day run that put the S&P 500 up almost 20% from its April lows.
The US equity benchmark lost steam following an $8.6 trillion surge to around “overbought” levels.
A slide in its most-influential group - big tech - weighed on trading, with Alphabet Inc. down 1.5%
amid the company’s developer conference. Tesla Inc. was the only megacap gaining as Elon Musk
said he’s committed to leading the electric-vehicle giant fiveyears from now.
2025-05-20
A renewed wave of dip buying fueled a rebound in stocks, with traders looking past the US credit
downgrade by Moody’s Ratings that had earlier sent bond yields jumping. The dollar fell.
After a morning slide that topped 1%, the S&P 500 rose for a sixth straight day to close on the brink
of a bull market. Several Wall Street strategists said any pullback could be a buying opportunity
amid momentum fueled by the recent easing of global trade tensions. Treasuries also bounced
across the curve, following a selloff that briefly drove 30-year yields above 5%.
2025-05-19
Stocks dropped in late hours and bond yields climbed after the US was downgraded by Moody’s
Ratings amid concerns about the increase in government debt that threatens America’s status as
the world’s safe haven.
The $606 billion SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust tracking the equity benchmark fell about 1% after the close
of regular trading. Treasury futures slid to session lows after the Moody’s statement, with the
market notching its third straight week of losses — the longest slide this year.
2025-05-16
Wall Street traders sent bond yields lower as stocks bounced after tame inflation data combined
with lackluster readings on retail sales and manufacturing bolstered the case for Federal Reserve
rate cuts this year.
The S&P 500 was little changed. The Nasdaq 100 slid 0.1%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average
wavered. UnitedHealth Group Inc. sank 15% on a report it was under criminal investigation for
possible Medicare fraud. Foot Locker Inc. soared 85% as Dick’s Sporting Goods Inc. reached a $2.4
billion deal to acquire the retailer.
2025-05-15
Wall Street’s epic rebound from April’s meltdown is showing signs of exhaustion on speculation
stocks have run too fast amid risks stemming from a trade war to an economic slowdown and
sticky inflation.
After a 22% jump from last month’s intraday lows, the S&P 500 edged up just 0.1%. Most sectors fell,
but big tech climbed. Boeing Co. gained on its largest-ever deal, with Qatar Airways placing an
order for long-range jets during a visit to Doha by Donald Trump. The dollar erased losses as
Bloomberg News reported the US is not working to include currency policy pledges in trade
accords. Bond yields rose as Federal Reserve rate-cut bets receded.
2025-05-14
A rally in the world’s largest technology companies wiped out the stock market’s losses for the
year on bets tensions around Donald Trump’s trade war are cooling, with inflation data showing
limited impacts thus far.
Equities climbed to the highest since February, the month that marked the S&P 500’s all-time high.
The gauge was up almost 1%, with chipmakers leading the charge as Nvidia Corp. and Advanced
Micro Devices Inc. will supply semiconductors to Saudi Arabian firmHumain for a massive data-
center project. Treasuries erased gains on speculation the Federal Reserve will stay put as it
evaluates potential implications of tariffs. The dollar fell.
2025-05-13
Wall Street’s bets that the US-China trade truce marked the end to an all-out tariff war drove the
S&P 500 up over 3%, while sinking defensive corners of the market from bonds to gold and haven
currencies. The dollar climbed the most since its November post-election rally.
The rebound in risk appetite and diminished expectations of a recession drove the stock
benchmark above President Donald Trump’s April 2 “Liberation Day” level. A surge in big techs put
the Nasdaq 100 back into a bull market just about a month after it plunged 20% from a previous
record. Amid a potential reset in inflation expectations, Treasury yields climbed as traders lowered
their Federal Reserve wagers to just two rate cuts in 2025
2025-05-12
Wall Street ended the week on a more cautious note, with stocks and bonds fluctuatingas the
world’s two largest economies get ready to kickstart their trade negotiations.
Investors refrained from making riskier bets on speculation that while discussions between
Chinese and American officials could represent a diplomatic icebreaker, a comprehensive
commitment would only come to fruition after several rounds of talks. Following a rapid $6 trillion
surge in the S&P 500 from the brink of a bear market, action has been more muted in recent days.
The gauge closed little changed on Friday.
2025-05-09
Wall Street’s risk-on mood prevailed on Thursday, with stocks up and bonds down as Donald Trump
announced a trade deal with the UK while noting that if China talks go well, tariffs could be
lowered. Equities also gained after the president said investors should buy shares now.
For a market hoping for an easing of tensions between the US and its top commercial partners,
that was enough to boost the S&P 500 - with the gauge briefly topping its April 2 high before the
advance subsided. While most major industries rose, gains were led by economically-sensitive
sectors. Bitcoin surpassed $100,000. As the safety bid ebbed, gold and haven currencies fell.
Treasury yields surged as traders pared bets on interest rate cuts
2025-05-08
Assurances by Jerome Powell that the economy remains sound and the Federal Reserve won’t be
forced into rash action by Donald Trump’s trade war bolstered markets, lifting stocks, bonds and
the dollar. Equities were also aided by prospects for looser rules on chip exports.
While warning that risks are growing of higher inflation and slowing growth, Powell calmed
investors after the Federal Open Market Committee left interest rates unchanged. The S&P 500
halted a two-day slide, led by chipmakers as Bloomberg News reported that the Trump
administration plans to rescind Biden-era curbs for the industry. Swap traders kept betting on at
least three Fed reductions in the remainder of 2025.
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