Almost unchanged the main markers of her Wall Street Monday (18.8.2025), after a week of profit. Investors awaited the significant results of retail sales and the annual speech of the US Federal Bank (Jerome Powell), at the Central Bank Summit in Jackson Hall.
Specifically, Wall Street’s Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 34.30 points, or 0.08%, closing at 44,911.82 points. At the same time, the S&P 500 closed 0.01% to 6,449.15 points, while the Nasdaq Composite rose 0.03% and closed at 21,629.77 points.
Meta Platforms and Microsoft shares dropped about 2.3% and 0.6%, negatively affecting the wider market.
This week, investors will analyze the financial results of large retail chains, such as Home Depot, Lowe’s, Walmart and Target, seeking evidence of US consumers’ health. Concerns about high valuations, duties and retention of increasing employment remain at the forefront of market participants as we approach the second half of the year.
“Retailers’ profit reports this week are likely to reflect concerns about duties, inflation increase and expected economic deceleration,” said Scott Wren, a senior Wells Investment Institute. He added that the rise of shares observed in recent weeks “is likely to stop” as a result.
The Fed will also be at the center of attention this week, as members of the Central Bank will travel to Jackson Hall, Wyoming for the annual economic policy symposium. Investors will attend the event to raise evidence of the future interest rates. According to CME’s Fedwatch tool, Fed’s futures are valued at about 83% the possibility that the central bank will reduce interest rates at the next policy meeting in September.
The three main indicators close the second consecutive positive week, which was also the fourth week of profit in the last five for the S&P 500 and Nasdaq. Small capitalization shares overwhelmed last week as investors bet on imminent interest rates.