Last Call

December 29, 2025

  Stocks head into the final week of trading with double-digit gains for the year. Last week, the S&P 500 Index was +1.4 %, the Dow Jones Industrials +1.2%, and the NASDAQ +1.2%. The Materials, Technology, and Financial sectors led the S&P 500 Index for the week, while the Consumer Staples, Consumer Discretionary, and Health …

Christmas Market

December 22, 2025

  Stocks finished mixed again last week. The S&P 500 Index was +0.1%, the Dow Jones Industrials -0.6%, and the NASDAQ +0.6%. The Consumer Discretionary, Materials, and Health Care sectors led the S&P 500 Index for the week, while the Energy, Real Estate, and Consumer Staples sectors lagged. The 10-year U.S. Treasury note yield was …

Mixed

December 15, 2025

  The Federal Reserve followed-through and provided an interest rate cut but concerns over the AI trade left markets mixed last week. The S&P 500 Index finished last week -0.6%, the Dow Jones Industrials +1.1%, and the NASDAQ -1.9%. The Materials, Financials and Industrials sectors led the S&P 500 Index, while the Communication Services, Technology, …

Hope for Holiday Easing

December 8, 2025

  Confidence in an interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve at its meeting this week continued to carry stocks. The S&P 500 Index finished last week +0.4%, the Dow Jones Industrials +0.6%, and the NASDAQ +1.0%. The Energy, Technology, and Consumer Discretionary sectors led the S&P 500 Index, while the Utility, Health Care, and …

What’s in Store

December 1, 2025

  A continued shift in expectations toward a Federal Reserve rate cut at its December meeting supported upside in equities last week. The S&P 500 Index finished the week +3.7%, the Dow Jones Industrials +3.2%, and the NASDAQ 4.9%. The Communication Services, Consumer Discretionary, and Technology sectors led the S&P 500 Index, while the Energy, …

Well Fed

November 24, 2025

  Equity markets rallied Friday on December rate cut optimism but closed lower for the week. The S&P 500 Index finished the week -1.9%, the Dow Jones Industrials -1.8%, and the NASDAQ -3.0%. The Communication Services, Health Care, and Consumer Staples sectors led the S&P 500 Index, while the Technology, Consumer Discretionary, and Energy sectors …

No Cents

November 17, 2025

  Equity markets were mixed last week with value-focused stocks outperforming growth-focused stocks. For the week, the S&P 500 Index was +0.1%, the Dow Jones Industrials +0.4%, and the NASDAQ -0.2%. The Health Care, Energy, and Materials sectors led the S&P 500 Index, while the Consumer Discretionary, Utilities, and Industrial sectors lagged. The 10-year U.S. …

Time to Reopen

November 10, 2025

  Uncertainty about the economy due to the government shutdown and profit taking in the technology sector caused a decline in stocks last week. For the week, the S&P 500 Index was -1.6%, the Dow Jones Industrials -1.2%, and the NASDAQ -3.1%. The Energy, Health Care, and Real Estate sectors led the S&P 500 Index, …

Still Reserved

November 3, 2025

  The Federal Reserve lowered interest rates, the U.S. and China made progress on trade and tariffs, and earnings were generally upbeat from several technology companies. This all led to higher equity markets. For the week, the S&P 500 Index was +0.7%, the Dow Jones Industrials +0.8, and the NASDAQ +2.0%. The Technology, Consumer Discretionary, …

Less Scary

October 27, 2025

  The September Consumer Price Index (CPI) report provided a calmer outlook on inflation and gave investors confidence the Federal Reserve can lower interest rates at this week’s Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting. For the week, the S&P 500 Index was +1.9%, the Dow Jones Industrials +2.2%, and the NASDAQ +2.2%. The Technology, Energy, …