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Major U.S. stock indexes finished the week lower as concerns regarding the disruptive potential of AI weighed on stocks across a broad range of industries. The Nasdaq Composite fared worst, shedding 2.10%, while the S&P500 Index and Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 1.39% and 1.23%, respectively. The Russell 1000 Value Index outperformed its growth counterpart for the 7thconsecutive week, extending its YTD lead to over 1,100 basis points. On the macro side, hiring in the U.S. was stronger than expected in January as U.S. employers added 130,000 jobs during the month, the highest monthly gain in over a year. The unemployment rate also declined to 4.3% from 4.4% in December.
Major U.S. equity indexes finished a volatile week mixed, as large-cap tech stocks suffered their worst week since November while small-cap and value stocks added to their YTD gains. Worries about the disruptive potential of AI, as well as concerns regarding a surge in capex, weighed on many of the high-growth stocks that have outperformed in recent years. In contrast, some cyclical and value-oriented segments outperformed as investors seemed to rotate into the areas that have lagged firms with more AI exposure. Corporate earnings and geopolitical tensions also appeared to contribute to the week’s volatility. The Nasdaq performed worst, shedding 1.84%, while the S&P 500 finished little changed. On the other hand, the Russell 2000 and the Dow Jones posted solid gains (and hit $50k for the 1st time).
This S&P 500 index advanced over the week, topping 7,000 but ultimately retreating from its new intraday high. Large-cap value stocks gained and outperformed their growth counterparts. Small-cap stocks lagged and finished the week lower. Within the S&P 500, the communication services and energy sectors led the way. Health care stocks pulled back the most. Initial U.S. jobless claims came in at 209,000 for the week ended January 24—above the consensus estimate. After three consecutive rate cuts, the Federal Reserve left the benchmark fed funds rate unchanged, in line with market expectations. A 10–2 vote underpinned the decision, with the two dissenting policymakers favoring a 25-basis-point reduction.
US stocks traded sharply lower to start the week on Tuesday, with the S&P 500 Index posting its largest daily decline since October amid renewed fears of a global trade war after President Trump announced that he would impose new tariffs on European nations that opposed the U.S. purchasing or otherwise taking control of Greenland. Stocks reversed course on Wednesday after Trump said that he and NATO Secretary General Rutte had “formed the framework of a future deal with respect to Greenland” and that he would no longer “be imposing the Tariffs that were scheduled to go into effect on February 1st.”
US equity indexes were mixed for the week, with small-cap and value stocks adding to their YTD leads over large-cap and growth-oriented shares. The Russell 2000 index advanced, reaching all-time high during the week, while large-cap indexes pulled back from the prior week’s record levels. Value stocks outpaced their growth counterparts for the third straight week. Q4 earnings season kicked off during the week with several big banks reporting Q4 results.
US equities advanced in the first full trading week of the year as investors largely looked past mounting geopolitical tensions, pushing most major indexes to all-time highs. Small-cap and value shares outpaced the large-cap growth stocks that have led returns in recent years, while an equal-weighted version of the S&P 500 Index outperformed its market cap-weighted counterpart. Of the major indexes, the Russell 2000 Index performed best, adding 4.62%, while the S&P 500 performed worst but still gained 1.57%. Stocks of aerospace & defense companies and homebuilders were volatile after several announcements by the Trump administration.
U.S. stocks declined during the holiday-shortened week. The Nasdaq Composite performed worst for the week, followed by the Russell 2000 and S&P 500 indexes. The Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P MidCap 400 Index held up best but still shed 0.67% and 0.71%, respectively. Within the S&P 500 Index, the energy sector outperformed as heightened geopolitical tensions drove oil prices higher. On the US macro side, lower mortgage rates and wage growth fuel homebuyer momentum, as pending home sales Index rose 3.3% in November, marking the largest month-over-month jump since February 2023.
U.S. stocks advanced during the holiday-shortened week, with the S&P 500 Index and Dow Jones Industrial Average both hitting record highs. News flow and trading volumes were generally light throughout the week, but some recent favorable economic data alongside artificial intelligence (AI) optimism appeared to support positive sentiment. The small-cap Russell 2000 Index was the worst performer of the major indexes, finishing the week 0.19% higher. On the macro front, the U.S. economy expanded at the fastest pace in two years during Q3, as U.S. real GDP grew at an annual rate of 4.3%, ahead of the second quarter’s 3.8% growth rate and well above estimates for around 3%.
The S&P 500 index finished the week little changed, while the Nasdaq added 0.48%. The Russell 2000 Index performed worst, declining 0.86%, followed by the Dow, which shed 0.67%. Equities started the week broadly lower but reversed course toward the end of the week, supported in part by an encouraging US inflation report as well as strong earnings results from semiconductor manufacturer Micron Technology that seemed to help shift AI-related sentiment. On the macro side, US unemployment rate rose to 4.6% in November, the highest level in over four years while US core inflation dropped to slowest pace since early 2021. December business activity growth slowed to a six-month low. US Treasuries yields generally decreased across most maturities.
Most US stock indexes rose and hit all-time highs during the week, supported by the Federal Reserve’s 3rd consecutive interest rate cut and commentary from central bank officials that some investors interpreted as less hawkish than feared. The small-cap Russell 2000 Index, performed best, adding 1.19%, followed by the Dow Jones Industrial Average’s 1.05% gain. Meanwhile, the S&P 500 Index pulled back sharply on Friday and erased its gains from earlier in the week. Renewed concerns regarding technology stock valuations and questions around whether elevated spending on AI infrastructure will pay off weighed on the Nasdaq Composite index, which fell 1.62% over the week.
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