Market Strategy

A Federal Reserve interest-rate decision, comments from Fed Chair Jerome Powell, and the Fed's “dot plot” interest-rate projections will likely be in the spotlight this week, with retail sales data also due for release as businesses brace for the impact of tariffs.

Stocks ended higher on Friday, capping off a turbulent week and a losing month for major indexes. Markets briefly pulled back during the session following a tense Oval Office meeting between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, which heightened geopolitical concerns. However, stocks regained momentum, rallying into the close.

Stocks tumbled on Friday as fresh US economic data fueled investor concerns over slowing growth and persistent inflation, prompting a flight to safer assets.

Stock and bond markets are closed Monday for the Presidents Day holiday. Walmart (WMT) earnings are expected to highlight the week. U.S.-traded Chinese e-commerce firms Alibaba (BABA) and Baidu (BIDU) are also scheduled to report, as well as online used-auto retailer Carvana (CVNA) and electric vehicle maker Rivian Automotive (RIVN). 

Stocks fell sharply on Friday as concerns over tariffs and inflation weighed on investor sentiment. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) dropped 444 points, or 0.99%, to 44,303, while the S&P 500 slid 0.95% to 6,026, and the Nasdaq lost 1.36% to 19,523. All three major indexes ended the week in negative territory.

The S&P 500 fell on Friday after reports that President Donald Trump’s latest tariffs on key US trading partners would take effect on Saturday. The index slipped 0.50% to close at 6,040.53, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 337.47 points, or 0.75%, pressured by a decline in Chevron (CVX). The Dow ended the session at 44,544.66. The Nasdaq Composite, which is heavily weighted toward tech stocks, edged down 0.28% to 19,627.44.

Markets are closed Monday for the Martin Luther King Jr. Day federal holiday. Donald Trump is set to be inaugurated as the U.S. president on the same day. Investors are watching for corporate earnings reports, with Netflix (NFLX), United Airlines (UAL), Johnson & Johnson (JNJ), American Express (AXP), and Verizon Communications (VZ) among the companies expected to release quarterly financial updates this week.

Stocks declined sharply on Friday as a stronger-than-expected jobs report dampened hopes for additional Federal Reserve rate cuts this year. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 696.75 points, or 1.63%, to 41,938.45. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite fell 1.54% and 1.63%, closing at 5,827.04 and 19,161.63, respectively. The losses pushed all major indexes into negative territory for 2025.

Stocks closed higher on Friday as Wall Street bounced back from a rough start to the year. The S&P 500 rose 73.92 points, or 1.26%, to finish at 5,942.47. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 339.86 points, or 0.8%, closing at 42,732.13. The Nasdaq Composite climbed 340.88 points, or 1.77%, ending the day at 19,621.68.

This will be another holiday-shortened trading week, with stock and bond markets closed on Wednesday for the New Year’s Day holiday. Bond markets will also close early on Tuesday for New Year’s Eve. And we'll near whether or not we got a Santa Claus Rally.

The Federal Reserve will announce its latest decision on interest rates when it concludes its meeting on Wednesday, with investors widely anticipating the central bank to cut rates again. After the announcement, Fed Chair Jerome Powell will take media questions and will likely provide more details on the economy.

The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite reached new record highs on Friday, supported by slightly stronger-than-expected November jobs data that likely won’t deter the Federal Reserve from cutting rates later this month.