The S&P 500 Index and the Dow Jones both moved to record highs over the week, helped by some upside surprises to kick off earnings season. Shares in JPMorgan Chase and Wells Fargo rose on Friday after they reported smaller-than-feared declines in Q3 profits. A solid rise in NVIDIA shares helped growth stocks outperform value stocks and compensate for a decline in Google parent Alphabet. Tesla was also weak following a skeptical response to the company’s highly anticipated unveiling of its new “robotaxis” and “robovans.” The earnings focus arguably offset several disappointing economic reports over the week: headline and core (less food and energy) inflation rose in September by 0.2% and 0.3%, respectively, both a tick above expectations.

Thanks to a rally on Friday, US blue chips stocks recorded a 4th consecutive weekly gain despite growing tensions in the Middle East and the dockworkers’ strike at Eastern seaports. Escalating Middle East tensions sent oil prices to their highest level in about a month, benefiting energy shares. The S&P 500 pulled back sharply (-1.38%) on Tuesday, as Iran fired nearly 200 missiles directly at Israel. While many of the missiles were intercepted, there were several hits in the southern and central parts of the country and threats of “more devastating attacks” if Israel responded. Markets stabilized on Wednesday, however, perhaps because worst-case scenarios failed to materialize.

The Dow Jones and the S&P 500 Index moved to record highs, as investors appeared to celebrate new stimulus measures in China. Chemicals and materials stocks were particularly strong. Copper prices also increased. Tech stocks outperformed as well, helped by reports of a possible takeover of Intel and news that NVIDIA’s CEO had ceased sales of his own shares in the company. In addition, chipmaker Micron Technology surged and seemed to provide a general tailwind for the sector following its upbeat outlook for AI demand. Some benign inflation data helped spur an early rally Friday; the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge, the core (less food and energy) personal consumer expenditures (PCE) price index, rose only 0.1% in August, a tick below expectations.

US large-cap indexes moved to record highs as investors celebrated the kick-off to what many expect to be a prolonged Fed rate-cutting cycle. The rally was also relatively broad, with the smaller-cap indexes outperforming (+9% on the week for the Russell 2000 index), although they remained below previous peaks. The initial reaction to the Fed’s jumbo rate cut was relatively muted. Indeed, investors’ celebration of the news seemed to begin on Thursday morning, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average, S&P 500 Index, and Nasdaq Composite all surging to new highs. The week’s economic data arguably had an upbeat overall tone, leading critics of the Fed’s decision to argue that policymakers had moved too decisively.

Stocks managed to post solid gains and largely recovered from the previous week’s steep losses. Growth stocks outpaced value shares by a wide margin, helped by strong performance from technology stocks which rallied aggressively higher midweek after NVDA CEO Jensen Huang said "demand was incredible“. They extended that sudden squeeze into Friday. On Wednesday, stocks initially headed sharply lower following news that core (less food and energy) consumer inflation rose to 0.3% in August, a tick higher than consensus expectations. Meanwhile, headline inflation showed an annual increase of 2.5%, well below July’s increase of 2.9% and its lowest level since early 2021.

Worries over an economic slowdown appeared to weigh on sentiment as the S&P 500 recorded its worst weekly performance since March 2023 . Tech shares led the declines, driven in part by a drop in NVIDIA following rumors that it may be the subject of a Justice Department antitrust investigation, which led to a roughly USD 300 billion drop in the chip giant’s market capitalization. Energy shares were also especially weak on the back of a decline in oil prices. Conversely, the typically defensive utilities, consumer staples, and real estate sectors held up better. US economic data generally surprised on the downside, raising fears that the Federal Reserve had waited too long to ease monetary policy.

August was a volatile month with US equities pulling back at the start the month before rallying back to unchanged. Last week, the main US equity indices ended mixed. Trading was light ahead of the US holiday weekend (Labor Day). The Nasdaq Composite fared the worst, dragged lower in part by chip giant NVIDIA, which lost nearly 10% of its value, at the stock’s low point on Thursday. Relatedly, value stocks outperformed growth shares by the largest margin since late July. The US core personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index showed prices rising by 0.2% in July, largely as expected. This seemed to please investors as it is a confirmation that inflation was remaining subdued and near the Fed’s target.

The Dow Jones and S&P 500 Index moved back toward record highs this week, as investors appeared to celebrate Fed Powell’s announcement at Jackson Hall that interest rate cuts would soon be coming. The gains were also broad-based, with small-caps outperforming large-caps and an equal-weighted version of the S&P 500 Index outpacing its capitalization-weighted counterpart. However, trading activity was exceptionally light through most of the week. On Friday, stocks jumped at the open of trading following the release of the text of Powell's speech at Jackson Hole, in which he acknowledged that “the time has come for policy to adjust”—implying that policymakers would cut rates in September. Moreover, Powell appeared to leave room for a cut of 50 basis (instead of 25 basis points).

US equities recorded their best week since 2023, led by a 5%-plus surge in the Nasdaq (which is up 12% from last Monday's lows). Investors appeared to celebrate positive news on both the inflation and growth fronts, which are bolstering hopes that the economy might achieve a “soft landing.” AI chip giant NVIDIA was especially strong, gaining 19% over the week. Growth stocks handily outpaced value shares. Small Caps were lifted by an ongoing short-squeeze. Official economic data suggested that the consumer was holding strong in the face of the cooling labor market. On Thursday, the Commerce Department reported that retail sales surged 1.0% in July, their best showing in 18 months. Consumer price index (CPI) inflation, reported Wednesday, was in line with expectations but also seemed to reassure investors, as the yoy increase in CPI fell below 3.0% for the first time in three years. The US 10-year Treasury yield decreased through most of the week on the benign inflation data but jumped on Thursday following the strong retail sales data. Credit markets rallied hard this week, adjusting back from "hard landing" to "soft landing" scenarios.

The major US equity indexes closed modestly lower for the week after recovering from the biggest sell-off in nearly two years. The S&P 500 Index neared correction territory (down over 10% from its peak) on Monday morning while the Nasdaq was down 15.8% from its peak. Even more pronounced were the swings in the CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) – the fear gauge - which briefly spiked Monday to 65.7, its highest level since late March 2020, before falling back to end the week at 20.6. A recent increase in Japanese short-term interest rates, albeit modest, seemed to result in a partial unwind in the so-called carry trade. A sharp rise in the yen over the preceding few weeks made the trade unprofitable, causing many investors to pull out of their positions. On the macro side, several major companies reported signs of weakening consumer demand during earnings calls.