Monthly Archives: June 2025

Week Ending 6/20/2025

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MARKET RECAP

  • US stocks were flat on the week.
  • The US joined Israel’s fight against Iran yesterday and put on what will hopefully turn out to be a knockout punch to the Iranian nuclear program.
  • Oil is expected to open between $80 and $85 per barrel, up from $77 on Friday. If Iran carries out threats to close the Strait of Hormuz, prices will spike much higher.
  • Social security will run out of funds in 2034, a year earlier than expected, as both political parties continue to ignore the problem.
  • The Fed left interest rates unchanged.

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Week Ending 6/13/2025

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YCharts Weekly Market Pulse
Market Recap
Week of Jun. 9 through Jun. 13, 2025
The S&P 500 index fell 0.4% this week as tensions between Israel and Iran reached a boiling point.

The S&P 500 finished the week at 5,976.97, breaking its two-week winning streak, though it remains up 1.1% for June and 1.6% in 2025.

Israel launched attacks on Iran early Friday morning, killing Iran’s senior-most military leaders. Iran reportedly retaliated, firing missiles toward Israel. Iranian media said its government will not participate in talks scheduled with US officials this weekend.

The attacks follow long-simmering tensions between the countries.

Oil futures jumped more than 7% on Friday after the attack, on concerns that the conflict will curb oil shipments from the Middle East.

The week had been upbeat as the US and China agreed to a trade framework following two days of talks in London. China will resume rare earth and magnet shipments, though it will put a six-month limit on the shipments in a bid to maintain leverage should trade tensions sour. US President Donald Trump announced the deal, pending approval from both leaders.

US consumer sentiment jumped to 60.5 in June, significantly exceeding May’s 52.2 and consensus forecasts. One-year inflation expectations fell to 5.1% from 6.6%, while five-year expectations also declined, indicating easing consumer concerns about future price increases.

Inflation in May unexpectedly slowed to 0.1% month-over-month, below the 0.2% Bloomberg consensus, driven by lower energy prices. Annually, the Consumer Price Index accelerated to 2.4%, matching expectations, up from April’s 2.3%.

Producer prices rose 0.1% in May, the first increase in three months, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Last month’s rebound fell short of the 0.2% Bloomberg consensus

Most sectors rose this week, led by a 5.7% increase in energy and a 1.2% increase in healthcare.

APA (APA), Halliburton (HAL), and ConocoPhillips (COP) led the rally in energy, each climbing over 10%.

Halliburton (HAL) said it was selected by Repsol Resources to support the full lifecycle of the Spanish company’s assets in the North Sea.

Eli Lilly (LLY) was up 6.4%, the company’s Chief Financial Officer, Lucas Montarce, said it will only partner with telehealth firms that stop selling copycat versions of its weight-loss drug Zepbound.

Financials declined by 2.6% and industrials fell 1.6% this week.

Visa (V) fell 4.7% while Mastercard fell 4.8%, after several companies were reported to be considering their own stablecoins in the US. Walmart (WMT), Amazon (AMZN), Expedia (EXPE), and several major airlines have been weighing plans to launch stablecoins, according to The Wall Street Journal’s report.

Next week, earnings reports are expected from companies including Haleon (HLN), Ferrovial (FER), and Accenture (ACN).

Economic data will include May’s US retail sales, import price index, and industrial production as well as June’s home builder confidence index.

Provided by MT Newswires.

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Week Ending 5/30/2025

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MARKET RECAP:

From May 26 to June 1, 2025, financial markets were shaped by a mix of economic data, corporate earnings, and policy developments, with significant volatility driven by U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff policies and related legal battles. Here’s a concise recap based on available information:
  • U.S. Stock Market Performance: The S&P 500 posted its strongest monthly gain since November 2023, rising about 6.2% in May, while the Nasdaq surged 9.6%. Despite a volatile session on May 30, the S&P 500 ended nearly flat, reflecting mixed reactions to Trump’s tariff rhetoric. On May 27, U.S. stocks soared, with the Dow up 1.78%, S&P 500 up 2.05%, and Nasdaq up 2.47%, fueled by Trump’s decision to delay a 50% tariff on EU goods until July 9, boosting consumer confidence. However, markets faced uncertainty later in the week as Trump accused China of violating a tariff agreement, escalating trade tensions.
  • Tariff Developments: Trump’s tariff policies were a focal point. On May 27, a U.S. Court of International Trade ruling blocked most of Trump’s “reciprocal” tariffs, citing overstepped authority, which initially lifted markets. However, on May 30, a federal appeals court reinstated most of these tariffs, creating uncertainty. Investors speculated on the “TACO” trade (Trump Always Chickens Out), expecting Trump might soften his stance, but concerns persisted about alternative import duty measures. A key date to watch is June 5, when plaintiffs in the tariff case must respond to the appeals court.
  • Corporate Earnings and Sector Impacts: Nvidia’s earnings on May 28 were a major driver, with revenue of $44.1 billion beating estimates but falling short on adjusted EPS due to a ban on H20 unit shipments to China. Nvidia’s stock rose 3% in extended trading, contributing to a 24% monthly gain. Gap Inc. shares dropped after forecasting a multimillion-dollar hit to 2025 operating income from tariffs, though it maintained its forecast. Broadcom saw strong demand for AI-related chips, projecting a 44% year-over-year AI revenue increase for Q2 2025. Chip designers like Cadence and Synopsys fell after reports of U.S. restrictions on software sales to Chinese firms.
  • Economic Indicators: Consumer confidence rebounded in May as trade tensions eased, though concerns about stagnating incomes persisted. U.S. markets showed resilience, with a 1.2% weekly gain and 12% annual increase, supported by expectations of 14% annual earnings growth. The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) rose 1.9% to 19.31 on May 29, reflecting heightened uncertainty. Gold prices, volatile around $3,200 in mid-May, were seen as a hedge against instability, with potential for new highs if trade tensions worsened.
  • Global Markets: European markets reacted positively to the U.S. tariff block on May 27, with the Stoxx Europe 600 and other indices advancing. In Asia, Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell 1.22% on May 30 amid high inflation (3.6% core in April), while South Korea’s Kospi dropped 0.84%. Germany’s inflation hit 2.1% in May, slightly above estimates.
  • Other Developments: The Federal Reserve’s May minutes raised concerns about the U.S. losing its status as a global financial safe haven due to tariffs. Bond yields soared amid gaping budget deficits, adding to market jitters. Investors awaited key data releases in early June, including PMI Manufacturing, unemployment rates, and the Fed’s Beige Book.

(highlights above provided by Grok)

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