Weekly Stock Market Update & SPY Technical Analysis Volatility spiked again in the market last week as geopolitical uncertainty escalated between the U.S. and Ukraine. A heated exchange between Trump and Zelensky capped off a week of wild market swings, leaving many traders wondering how this will impact stocks in the coming week. While it may be tempting to think that the debate could cause market turmoil, the true impact is likely to be short-lived, as investors shift their focus back to what really matters—economic development. On the economic front, last week actually brought great news for markets. The U.S. GDP reading came in line with expectations, reflecting 2.3% growth in the fourth quarter. The PCE index, the Fed’s preferred...
Weekly Market Update & SPY Technical Analysis Markets recorded their worst performance of 2025 last Friday following disappointing consumer sentiment data. The final reading for February came in at 64.7, falling short of the expected 67.8. While the miss was modest, it added to a growing list of concerns weighing on the market. Other key stressors include stalled progress on inflation, Trump’s tariffs, and heightened global political uncertainty. Together, these factors created the perfect storm to drive markets lower, with weak consumer sentiment serving as the final trigger. What to Watch This Week Heading into this week, investor sentiment is expected to remain fragile as markets focus on key economic data and corporate earnings. Economic Data: Tuesday: The consumer confidence...
Investors are embracing an extended three-day weekend after last week’s spree of events. To recap, here are the key events that took place last week: CPI and PPI Data: Inflation on both the consumer and producer ends ticked up in January, with CPI at 3% and PPI at 3.5%. This was the first time CPI hit 3% in seven months, sparking concerns that progress toward the 2% target is off track. Many blame the sharp rise in egg prices for the uptick in inflation, but even core inflation, which excludes volatile items like food and energy, surged 0.4% month over month. The data further increased uncertainty about interest rate cuts this year. On the subject of interest rates, several Federal...
Weekly Stock Market Update & SPY Technical Analysis Investors are gearing up for a highly eventful week ahead, filled with key economic data and updates from Federal Reserve officials. Several Fed members will deliver speeches and share their latest views on economic activity. More importantly, Fed Chairman Jerome Powell is set to testify before Congress in a two day event on Tuesday and Wednesday, his first appearance since July 2024. Markets often experience heightened volatility during live speeches, so stay vigilant and be prepared for some uncertainty. Inflation data will also be a major focus this week, with both the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and Producer Price Index (PPI) set for release. Inflation has been the biggest challenge for the...
Markets Begin February Amid Lingering January Uncertainty As the calendar turns to a new month, markets remain focused on the events of January. From a new president taking office to mixed economic data, investors are still seeking clarity on what February might bring. Despite last month’s volatility, the S&P 500 managed to post a 2.93% gain, outperforming the historical January average return of 0.82%. Recap of Last Week: Federal Reserve Decision: The Fed kept interest rates unchanged, emphasizing inflation risks resurfacing on the horizon. PCE Inflation Report: December’s 2.6% YoY inflation reading remains above the Fed’s 2% target, reinforcing concerns about future rate policy. Tech Earnings: Meta, Apple, Tesla, and Microsoft all reported earnings, but their stock movements remained largely...
