Anna's Markets Recap

_{Just facts, you think for yourself}

Saturday, 5:19 AM

August 30, 2025

Good morning news friend! Here is a quick recap of what happened in the markets this week. 📰🌟

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What Moved Markets Last Week

The market reached a new peak before retreating. The S&P 500 closed above 6,500 for the first time. This optimism was driven by hopes for a Federal Reserve interest rate cut in September.

A sharp reversal occurred on Friday. An inflation report showed the Fed's preferred "core" Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) measure accelerated to 2.9%. This challenged the narrative of cooling inflation. The news erased some of the week's gains.

Economic data sent mixed signals. Second-quarter GDP growth was revised upward to a solid 3.3%. Jobless claims suggested a labor market that is cooling but not collapsing. These figures fueled the mid-week rally before the inflation data shifted sentiment.

Gold had a strong week. The price rose 2.27% to close at $3,448.50 per ounce. The metal is benefiting from two opposing investor views.

Some investors are buying gold as a hedge against persistent inflation. Others are buying it in anticipation of Federal Reserve rate cuts. Lower rates reduce the opportunity cost of holding the non-yielding asset. This dual demand has made its rally robust.

Tech and Growth

NVIDIA delivered strong second-quarter earnings. The company beat revenue and profit forecasts. However, its stock fell 3.4% for the week.

The drop was caused by the company's guidance. NVIDIA stated its projections assumed zero revenue from H20 AI chips sold to China due to U.S. export restrictions. This confirmed a significant headwind, and the stock’s fall pulled the entire semiconductor sector lower. Broadcom, a key chip supplier, fell 4.1% in the downdraft.

Tesla shares fell 4.4% for the week. New data revealed Tesla's car registrations in Europe fell 40.2% year-over-year in July. The report also showed that Chinese competitor BYD outsold Tesla in the region, highlighting intense competition.

Alphabet’s stock showed strength. It climbed to a new all-time high, closing the week up 1.7%. Investors focused on the company's strong position in artificial intelligence. This focus overshadowed concerns about a looming antitrust ruling on its Chrome browser.

Salesforce Inc. shares rallied 3.28%. The move followed news that an activist investor had increased their stake in the company. This was seen as a vote of confidence.

Banks and Financials

Large bank stocks performed well. Investors grew more confident in a "soft landing" for the economy. Bank of America rose 2.55% for the week.

The gains were tied to interest rate expectations. A scenario of gently falling rates could stimulate loan demand and mergers. This would boost investment banking fees and offset pressure on lending margins.

Berkshire Hathaway rose 1.51%. Market analysis continued to focus on its recent disclosure of a new $1.6 billion investment in UnitedHealth Group. The move is viewed as a contrarian value play, betting against pessimism in the health insurance sector.

Consumer Goods and Healthcare

Eli Lilly was the week's top performer. The stock surged 6.15%. The company announced positive Phase 3 trial results for orforglipron, its oral obesity drug. The results position the drug as a powerful competitor to popular injectable treatments.

UnitedHealth Group staged a strong recovery, rising 1.64%. The rally was driven by Berkshire Hathaway's investment. Warren Buffett's vote of confidence provided a catalyst for investors to buy the beaten-down stock.

AbbVie shares traded higher, gaining 2.92%. The company announced a deal to acquire a novel therapy for major depressive disorder. This move continues its strategy of acquiring new assets to build its future drug pipeline.

Energy and Industrials

Exxon Mobil stock rose 1.59%. The company benefited from stable oil prices. It also saw increased buying on Friday as investors rotated from high-growth technology stocks into value names.

Home Depot shares fell 1.43%. The stock’s performance is tied to the U.S. housing market. Concerns about a cooling economy and the end of the peak home renovation season weighed on the stock.

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Baked with love,

Anna Eisenberg ❤️