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Market Week: January 13, 2025 The Markets (as of market close January 10, 2025) Markets declined last week as economic data reinforced expectations that the Federal Reserve will maintain elevated interest rates, with most indexes posting losses and Treasury yields reaching a 14-month high.

The Markets (as of market close January 3, 2025) The new year started with declines in most benchmark indexes, except the Russell 2000, as only a few sectors like energy, utilities, real estate, and health care saw gains. Crude oil prices reached a two-month high, gold prices rose, and the dollar remained strong, reflecting optimism in energy demand and U.S. economic resilience despite market volatility.

Overview The year 2024 was extraordinary for the economy and the markets. High interest rates, rising unemployment, turmoil in the Middle East, and the ongoing Russia/Ukraine war, were some of the many factors that should have signaled economic contraction and a downturn in the stock market. Yet, the opposite occurred. Gross domestic product expanded by 3.1% in the third quarter and 2.9% year over year. Each of the major stock market indexes listed here posted solid year-end gains. Inflation came down. Corporate earnings grew, despite the unemployment rate inching higher.

The Markets (as of market close December 27, 2024) Christmas week saw stocks climb higher, despite a tumble last Friday. Each of the benchmark indexes listed here posted gains, led by the Global Dow and the NASDAQ.

The Markets (as of market close December 20, 2024). Despite a late-week rally, stocks tumbled lower last week as Wall Street appears to be limping into the new year. Each of the benchmark indexes lost value, with the Russell 2000 falling nearly 4.5%. For much of the week, investors seemed to move from risk, particularly in light of the Federal Reserve's revised projection of fewer interest rate reductions in 2025.

The Markets (as of market close December 13, 2024) Stocks pulled back last week as tech shares pared gains from the prior week. The NASDAQ posted a minimal gain, while the S&P 500 retreated from recent record highs. Nine of the 11 market sectors declined last week, with only consumer discretionary and communication services advancing.

The Markets (as of market close December 6, 2024) A stronger-than-expected jobs report (see below) helped drive stocks mostly higher last week and raise optimism of an interest rate cut when the Federal Reserve meets later in December.

The Markets (as of market close November 29, 2024) Stocks posted strong gains for November, which saw the S&P and the Dow have their best months of the year. The gains likely reflected investor optimism that a second Trump administration will favor businesses, with the hope that the President-elect will take a more moderate stance on trade tariffs.

The Markets (as of market close November 29, 2024) Stocks posted strong gains for November, which saw the S&P and the Dow have their best months of the year. The gains likely reflected investor optimism that a second Trump administration will favor businesses, with the hope that the President-elect will take a more moderate stance on trade tariffs.

Wall Street enjoyed a solid week of gains, rebounding from the prior week's losses. Each of the benchmark indexes climbed higher, led by the small caps of the Russell 2000, as investors moved from mega caps to cyclical stocks, which are influenced largely by the economy. Communication services was the only market sector to close in the red, while the remaining sectors moved higher, led by utilities, consumer staples, real estate, and materials.

Last week saw stocks close markedly lower as investors were discouraged by hawkish comments from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, who put a damper on the likelihood of another interest rate decrease this year. Among the market sectors, energy, financials, and utilities closed the week higher, while the remaining sectors ended the week in the red, led by health care, which saw stocks fall after President-elect Trump's appointment of Robert Kennedy as secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.

Investors had plenty to think about last week as they focused on the results of the presidential election and the Federal Reserve's move to further reduce interest rates (see below). Each of the benchmark indexes listed here closed up by the end of the week, with consumer discretionary, information technology, and financials outperforming. Bond prices ended the week higher, pulling yields lower. Crude oil prices rose to over $72.00 per barrel only to slip back a bit at the end of the week. The dollar inched higher, while gold prices declined. According to Freddie Mac, mortgage rates rose to 6.79% on November 7, the highest they've been in nearly four months.

Following Donald Trump’s election win and a projected Republican majority in Congress, financial markets experienced significant fluctuations. Key shifts included a steepened yield curve, a rally in U.S. equities, and higher Treasury yields. Investors appear optimistic, expecting pro-business policies like tax cuts (individual and corporate), deregulation, and robust earnings growth; however, risks of inflation, higher government debt, and tariffs remain concerns.

Stocks closed lower in October as Wall Street couldn't maintain the momentum from September's strong showing after the Fed lowered interest rates. Equities began October on an upswing on the heels of a better-than-expected jobs report. In fact, during the first half of the month, the Dow and the S&P 500 reached record highs. However, investors began moving away from risk as the unrest in the Middle East intensified and sentiment grew that the Fed may not cut rates in November. Toward the end of the month, disappointing earnings data from big tech companies raised concerns about rising AI costs and the potential for profit pressures. Among the market sectors, only communication services, financials, and energy managed to outperform. Health care, materials, real estate, and consumer staples lagged.

Wall Street saw stocks end October with a whimper, although equities began November on a high note. Each of the benchmark indexes listed here closed last week lower, except the Russell 2000. A surprisingly weak jobs report (see below) at the end of the week was offset by solid earnings reports from a couple of tech giants. Analysts speculated that the October labor data was impacted by hurricane disruptions and a strike at a major airplane manufacturer. Consumer discretionary and communication services were the only market sectors to end the week higher. Utilities, real estate, and information technology fell the furthest. Ten-year Treasury yields reached the highest rate in nearly four months as the latest economic data favored a slightly more hawkish Federal Reserve. Crude oil prices closed the week with three consecutive days of gains, but not enough to recover from a downturn earlier in the week.

Tech shares helped the NASDAQ close up last week. The remaining indexes listed here didn't fare as well. Renewed concerns about the Federal Reserve's interest rate policy dampened investor appetite for risk.

Wall Street marked another week of gains, with each of the benchmark indexes climbing higher. The Dow and the S&P 500 attained new records, while the NASDAQ rode a spurt in tech and communication shares.

Despite a tepid start, stocks ended last week generally higher. Each of the benchmark indexes listed here posted solid gains with the Dow and the S&P 500 reaching record highs on multiple occasions. Financials and information technology led the market sectors, with consumer discretionary, real estate, communication services, utilities, and energy losing ground.

Investors were confronted with plenty of market-moving information last week as they waded through negative developments and some positive signs.

Wall Street got off to a good start to begin the third quarter of 2024 and continued to rally for much of the quarter. Investors spent the quarter watching inflation and economic data, trying to gauge whether the Federal Reserve might lower interest rates.

Wall Street enjoyed a solid week of gains following a rough start to the month. Each of the benchmark indexes listed here advanced, with the exception of the Russell 2000, which is generally the most volatile of the aforementioned indexes.

The Markets (as of market close September 20, 2024) The interest rate decrease by the Federal Reserve helped drive stocks higher last week. Each of the benchmark indexes listed here closed higher, led by the Russell 2000. Communication services, energy, and utilities were the best performing market sectors, while consumer staples, health care, and real estate lagged.

Equities rallied notably last week as investors awaited this week’s Federal Reserve meeting in anticipation of at least a 25.0-basis-point reduction in interest rates. Nine of the 11 market sectors ended last week higher, led by information technology.

September has clearly gotten off to a rough start for Wall Street. Stocks plunged lower on fears of an economic decline and a waning labor market. Investors feared that the Federal Reserve, which is now more likely to drop interest rates by at least 50.0 basis points when it meets in a few weeks, may be responding too late.

Despite moments of trepidation, the stock market extended its winning streak to three straight weeks. And even with its rough start, August marked the fourth month in a row of positive returns.

Stocks closed mostly higher in August, buoyed by a strong close to the month. Favorable inflation data and economic reports helped drive stocks higher toward the end of the month as investors took heed of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s statement that it is approaching time to lower interest rates.

Investors finally heard what they had been waiting for after Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell gave clear indications that the central bank will lower interest rates in September. Powell noted that the labor market has cooled and inflation is slowing.

The Markets (as of market close August 16, 2024) Wall Street rebounded after a rough start to the month, to close out its best week of the year. Investors saw alot of economic data that did little to change the expectations of an interest rate reduction in September. Last week's gains ended four straight weeks of losses, fueled by concerns that the Federal Reserve hadn't lowered interest rates soon enough to prevent a major economic slowdown.

The Markets (as of market close August 9, 2024) Market volatility continued last week as stocks tumbled Monday and Wednesday, only to rebound at the end of last week, but not enough to avoid closing in the red for the second week in a row. Each of the benchmark indexes listed here lost value, with the small caps of the Russell 2000 falling the furthest.

The Markets (as of market close July 26, 2024) Stocks were mixed last week, with the Dow and the Russell 2000 adding value, while the Nasdaq, the S&P 500, and the Global Dow ended the week in the red. Tech shares took a hit as investors prepared for this week's earnings data from four megacap giants.

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The Markets (as of market close July 12, 2024) Investors were encouraged by the most recent inflation data, raising expectations of an interest rate cut in September. Each of the benchmark indexes listed here closed the week in the black, led by the Russell 2000. The small-cap index recorded its best weekly performance since October 2023, while reaching its highest level since January 2022.

The Markets (as of market close July 5, 2024) The stock market fared quite nicely during the Fourth of July week. Each of the benchmark indexes listed here posted gains, with the Nasdaq and the S&P 500 reaching record highs a few times during the week. Only the small caps of the Russell 2000 slid lower.

The Markets (second quarter through June 28, 2024) Wall Street got off to a slow start to begin the second quarter of 2024. Stocks lagged for much of April, rebounded in May, and were choppy in June. Investors spent the quarter watching economic data, trying to gauge whether the Federal Reserve might lower interest rates. In April, investors were discouraged by the unexpected rise in inflation, which dampened hopes of several interest rate decreases during the year.

The Markets (as of market close June 21, 2024) Wall Street rode a rally in tech and Al stocks for most of last week. The end of the week saw a bit of a downturn, but not enough to keep the benchmark indexes listed here from closing the week higher.

The Markets (as of market close June 14, 2024) U.S. stocks outpaced the rest of the world last week as global investors sought relief from the turmoil caused by European elections. Tech stocks carried the market as investors digested a pair of cooling inflation reports. The Nasdaq closed at record highs every day last week, and the S&P 500 also posted a solid gain, while the Russell 2000, the Dow, and the Global Dow all lost ground.

The Markets (as of market close June 7, 2024) Despite a dip at the end of the week, stocks closed last week generally higher, with the exception of the economically sensitive small caps of the Russell 2000. A robust jobs report at the end of last week may have alleviated concerns about an economic slowdown, but it also strengthened the Fed's case to refrain from lowering interest rates until inflation recedes.

The Markets (as of market close May 31, 2024) Equities generally closed lower by the end of the week with, the Nasdaq and the Dow falling furthest among the benchmark indexes listed here. The Russell 2000 and the Global Dow were flat. Investors spent the week assessing the first-quarter gross domestic product, jobless claims, and corporate earnings data.

The Markets (as of market close May 31, 2024) Stocks rebounded from a sour April, closing higher in May. Investors spent the month focused on job gains, gross domestic product, corporate earnings reports, and inflation data in an attempt to determine when the Federal Reserve might cut interest rates.

In April, stock markets fell amid global tensions and inflation concerns, despite positive job growth and corporate earnings, with some sectors like real estate and technology seeing significant declines, while bond yields rose and the dollar strengthened, and gold prices increased.

Stocks rose last week, led by tech and communication sectors, supported by positive earnings and economic data, despite concerns about rising interest rates and fluctuating commodity prices. Learn more about it in this week’s market summary.

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