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Week of September 28th Recap
Stocks ended last week mixed as a tug-of-war between strong economic data, cooler job growth, and decades-high Treasury yields played out.
The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index edged down 0.27 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index rose 0.45 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slid 1.26 percent. The MSCI EAFE Index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, fell 1.81 percent.1,2
A Mixed Week
Stocks fell at the start of the week as Treasury yields continued to rise. They steadied over the next session with Treasury yields still in the spotlight. The benchmark 10-year Treasury yield topped 5.29 percent, up 133 basis points from its year-to-date low in late February.3,4
Markets perked up midweek after a revision to Q2 GDP showed the economy grew faster than originally estimated. Quarterly earnings results for a large semiconductor also supported markets, while rising oil prices kept enthusiasm in check.5,6
After a soft jobs report, stocks opened higher on Friday, with investors wondering whether the Fed would adjust rates at the end of the month. The AI trade roused once again to lead the Nasdaq to a fresh intraday record and end the week on a high note.7
Contrasting Economic Data
Q2 GDP was revised upward from 1.5 percent to 2.2 percent, flipping the economy’s trajectory over the first half of the year from slowing to growing.8
On the other hand, the latest jobs report showed job growth slowed in September to 29,000 jobs added, a falloff from August’s downwardly revised 133,000 job gain (from 162,000). Jobs added in July were also revised down, reflecting a total well under 200,000 for Q3.9
Also in the mix was last week’s Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) Index report, which showed inflation held steady in August at 3.4 percent over the prior 12 months. The Fed’s long-standing target has been 2 percent inflation.8
This Week: Key Economic Data
Monday: Purchasing Managers Index (PMI)—Services.
Tuesday: Trade Balance. Dallas Fed President Lorie Logan speaks.
Wednesday: Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) Meeting Minutes. Consumer Credit.
Thursday: Weekly Jobless Claims. Monthly Wholesale Trade.
Friday: Consumer Sentiment (U. Michigan Survey). Kansas City Fed President Jeffrey Schmid speaks.
Source: Investor’s Business Daily – Econoday economic calendar: October 2, 2026.
The Econoday economic calendar lists upcoming U.S. economic data releases (including key economic indicators), Federal Reserve policy meetings, and speaking engagements of Federal Reserve officials. The content is developed from sources believed to provide accurate information. The forecasts or forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and may not materialize. The forecasts are also subject to revision.
Week of September 21st Recap
Stocks advanced last week as the broad market looked past inflationary pressures and focused on falling oil prices, declining bond yields, and ongoing diplomatic efforts in the Middle East.
The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index rose 1.22 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index advanced 2.06 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average edged up 0.28 percent. The MSCI EAFE Index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, added 0.15 percent.1,2
Choppy Trading
Stocks bolted out of the gate to start the week, rebounding thanks to AI stocks, falling oil prices, and bond yields. The Nasdaq hit a record intraday high during Monday’s session.
The broad market went sideways on Tuesday as traders kept an eye on developments in the Middle East, while oil prices and Treasury yields slid further.3,4
Markets then fell midweek amid investor concerns over comments from one Fed official and two inflation updates. All three major averages were under pressure. The malaise hung on into Thursday, but stocks began to climb late in the day on upbeat reports out of the Middle East.5,6
All three major averages continued their recovery Friday, ending the day with some momentum going into the close.7
Eyes on Bonds
Treasury yields hit multidecade highs last week due to a couple of factors.
The first was Federal Reserve Governor Michael Barr’s hawkish language on Wednesday, suggesting he was open to another rate adjustment at the October Fed meeting. And the second was the Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) reports for both manufacturing and services, which were also released on Wednesday. Both reports showed costs hit four-year highs for the month.8
This Week: Key Economic Data
Tuesday: S&P Cotality Case-Shiller Home Price Index. Consumer Confidence. Job Openings & Labor Turnover. Fed speeches: Austan Goolsbee (Chicago) & John Williams (NYC).
Wednesday: ADP Employment Report (private sector). Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Q2 (third estimate). Trade Balance in Goods. Wholesale & Retail Inventories. Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) Index. Fed President Goolsbee speaks.
Thursday: Weekly Jobless Claims. Purchasing Managers Index (PMI)—Manufacturing. Construction Spending.
Friday: Employment Report. Factory Orders.
Source: Investor’s Business Daily – Econoday economic calendar: September 25, 2026. The Econoday economic calendar lists upcoming U.S. economic data releases (including key economic indicators), Federal Reserve policy meetings, and speaking engagements of Federal Reserve officials. The content is developed from sources believed to provide accurate information. The forecasts or forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and may not materialize. The forecasts are also subject to revision.
Week of September 14th Recap
Stocks ended last week mixed as investors navigated the Fed’s rate decision, Treasury yields, oil prices, and the volatile AI trade.
The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index declined 0.09 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index rose 0.72 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 1.70 percent. The MSCI EAFE Index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, skidded 1.32 percent.1,2
Mixed Markets
Stocks opened lower to start the week as safety concerns tempered the artificial intelligence trade and oil prices rose. Markets slid again over the next session as the bellwether 10-year Treasury yield rose above 5 percent to a 19-year high.3,4
Markets steadied midweek as investors awaited the Fed’s decision on the final day of its September meeting. The Fed raised short-term interest rates by a quarter percentage point in a widely anticipated decision, reflecting inflation concerns. Stocks fell following the decision, but declines in the broader market were modest.5
Stocks rebounded Thursday, clawing back some losses from the prior session. Lower oil prices, falling Treasury yields, and advances in a handful of megacap tech stocks helped lift all three major market averages. But the relief rally stalled out a bit on Friday morning as Treasury yields rose again.6,7
Focus on the Fed
The Federal Open Market Committee voted unanimously to raise interest rates, increasing the Fed Funds rate by a quarter percentage point to a target range of 3¾ to 4 percent. Of the 18 officials who submitted medium-term projections for the Fed’s so-called “dot-plot,” 16 penciled in at least one more adjustment this year. (The FOMC meets twice more before year-end.)8
In his post-meeting press conference, Fed Chair Kevin Warsh said that “inflation is too high and has been for too long.” He added that despite expanding economic activity, “uncertainty remains elevated, owing in part to geopolitical developments,” and that the Fed’s decision supports a “timelier return” to its goal of 2 percent inflation.8,9
This Week: Key Economic Data
Tuesday: Richmond Fed President Tom Barkin speaks.
Wednesday: Purchasing Managers Index (PMI)—Manufacturing. Purchasing Managers Index (PMI)—Services.
Thursday: Weekly Jobless Claims. New Home Sales. Fed President Barkin speaks.
Friday: Durable Goods. U. Michigan Consumer Sentiment Survey.
Source: Investors Business Daily – Econoday economic calendar; September 18, 2026. The Econoday economic calendar lists upcoming U.S. economic data releases (including key economic indicators), Federal Reserve policy meetings, and speaking engagements of Federal Reserve officials. The content is developed from sources believed to provide accurate information. The forecasts or forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and may not materialize. The forecasts are also subject to revision.
Week of September 7th Recap
Stocks fell over a shortened trading week as higher oil prices rattled investors.
The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index declined 0.80 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index edged down 0.66 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 1.57 percent. The MSCI EAFE Index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, skidded 1.39 percent.1,2
Sluggish Start
Stocks fell in response to higher oil prices at Tuesday’s opening bell as investors returned from the long Labor Day weekend. Investors kept one eye on diplomatic efforts in the Middle East and another on fresh inflation reports due out later in the week.3
Stocks were under pressure again on Wednesday as oil prices continued climbing. After the Treasury Department announced it was tripling its long-dated debt buyback program (to as much as $6 billion), the yield on the 10-year Treasury note rose to a 3-year high. Investors continued to fret over inflation as the week progressed, putting further pressure on stocks.4,5
On Friday, stocks rebounded after news that annualized inflation held steady in August, puzzling some who expected stocks to decline. Oil prices fell, and markets rebounded to finish a tough week on an upbeat note.6
Inflation Reports
Wholesale inflation was released on Thursday; PPI, or the Producer Price Index, rose 0.4 percent in August over the prior month, in line with expectations. Stocks were under pressure despite the tame results.7
But on Friday, the latest CPI (Consumer Price Index) report showed that year-over-year retail inflation in August held steady at 3.4 percent. Traders appeared to look past the report, with the question shifting from whether the Fed will adjust rates this year to how many times the Fed may need to act.8
This Week: Key Economic Data
Tuesday: Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) Meeting, Day 1.
Wednesday: Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) Meeting, Day 2. Retail Sales. Import Prices. Manufacturing & Trade Inventories. NAHB Housing Market Index. Fed interest rate decision.
Thursday: Housing Starts. Weekly Jobless Claims. Pending Home Sales.
Friday: Industrial Production. Capacity Utilization. Leading Indicators.
Source: Investor’s Business Daily – Econoday economic calendar: September 11, 2026. The Econoday economic calendar lists upcoming U.S. economic data releases (including key economic indicators), Federal Reserve policy meetings, and speaking engagements of Federal Reserve officials. The content is developed from sources believed to provide accurate information. The forecasts or forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and may not materialize. The forecasts are also subject to revision.
Week of August 31st Recap
Stocks were mixed last week as markets continued to navigate geopolitical concerns and new signals about short-term interest rates.
The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index edged up 0.09 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index rose 0.40 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.27 percent. The MSCI EAFE Index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, skidded 0.25 percent.1,2
Summer’s Final Act
Stocks fell modestly, and oil prices rose at the start of the week after renewed tensions in the Middle East put investors on edge. Longer-maturity Treasury bond yields also rose, adding pressure on stocks.3
Stocks remained under pressure as global bond yields rose, with traders fretting that higher oil prices would stoke broader inflation. Benchmark government bond yields for the U.S., Germany, and Japan hit 20-month, 15-year, and 30-year highs, respectively.3
But midweek, stocks rebounded after Fed Governor Christopher Waller suggested that the Fed might leave interest rates unchanged at its meeting later this month. Each major average gained 1 percent or more.4,5
Before Friday’s opening, the Labor Department’s nonfarm payrolls report showed job growth was stronger than expected in August. Stocks were under pressure all day as traders saw the job report as a reason that the Fed might consider adjusting rates later this month.6
Jobs Update
Wednesday’s ADP National Employment Report showed private-sector hiring slowed in August, as companies added only 38,000 jobs.7
That was one of the reasons why Friday’s nonfarm payrolls report surprised investors. The entire U.S. economy added 162,000 jobs in August. That was triple the 53,000 job gain economists expected and the biggest jump in 5 months. The unemployment rate also remained unchanged at a historically low 4.1 percent.8
This Week: Key Economic Data
Tuesday: NFIB Small Business Optimism Index. Consumer Credit.
Thursday: Weekly Jobless Claims. Producer Price Index (PPI). Monthly Wholesale Trade. Existing Home Sales.
Friday: Consumer Price Index (CPI). University of Michigan Consumer Survey. Monthly Treasury Balance.
Source: Investors Business Daily – Econoday economic calendar; September 4, 2026. The Econoday economic calendar lists upcoming U.S. economic data releases (including key economic indicators), Federal Reserve policy meetings, and speaking engagements of Federal Reserve officials. The content is developed from sources believed to provide accurate information. The forecasts or forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and may not materialize. The forecasts are also subject to revision.
Week of August 24th Recap
Stocks rebounded last week as falling bond yields and upbeat AI-related corporate reports rekindled positive market sentiment despite the Fed Chair’s slightly hawkish speech.
The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index gained 0.49 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index rose 0.85 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.53 percent. The MSCI EAFE Index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, lost 0.17 percent.1,2
An Active News Week
Chip stocks fell as the week kicked off, dragging down the S&P 500 and Nasdaq. Reports that the Treasury Department may buy back its own bonds helped drive yields lower.3,4
Midweek, the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) Report, the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge, came in a little hotter than expected. However, core PCE, which excludes food and energy, was in line with forecasts.5
Market sentiment got a lift on Thursday as investors cheered upbeat Q2 corporate reports. A handful of high-profile tech companies said AI helped drive Q2 results and provided strong guidance. Semiconductor stocks and adjacent names in the AI trade led the rebound, driving broader gains for the Nasdaq and S&P 500.6
On Friday, stocks initially shrugged off Fed Chair Kevin Warsh’s keynote speech, but sellers gained the upper hand later in the session. Short- and intermediate-term Treasury yields, including that of the bellwether 10-year Treasury note, rose as investors digested Warsh’s comments on inflation.7
Signals from Jackson Hole
At the Federal Reserve’s 2026 Economic Policy Symposium in Jackson Hole, Fed Chair Warsh expressed concerns about current inflation trends. He also said that he believes “less is more” when it comes to the Fed communicating about future policy moves.
In separate speeches, Cleveland Fed President Beth Hammack, Dallas Fed President Lorie Logan, and Minneapolis Fed President Neel Kashkari appeared to support higher short-term rates. Fed Governor Christopher Waller, Kansas City Fed President Jeffrey Schmid, and Vice Chair Philip Jefferson also took a modestly hawkish tone in their statements.8
This Week: Key Economic Data
Tuesday: Purchasing Managers Index (PMI)—Manufacturing. Construction Spending. Job Openings & Labor Turnover Survey.
Wednesday: ADP National Employment Report (private sector). Factory Orders. Federal Reserve Beige Book.
Thursday: Trade Balance. Weekly Jobless Claims. Purchasing Managers Index (PMI)—Services. Fed speeches, ‘Connecting Communities’ online event: Beth Hammack (Cleveland), Austan Goolsbee (Chicago).
Friday: U.S. Employment Report.
Source: Investor’s Business Daily – Econoday economic calendar: August 28, 2026.
The Econoday economic calendar lists upcoming U.S. economic data releases (including key economic indicators), Federal Reserve policy meetings, and speaking engagements of Federal Reserve officials. The content is developed from sources believed to provide accurate information. The forecasts or forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and may not materialize. The forecasts are also subject to revision.
Week of August 17th Recap
Stocks declined last week as global investors fretted about oil-supply-induced inflation.
The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index declined 1.43 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index slid 2.05 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.85 percent. The MSCI EAFE Index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, lost 0.40 percent.1,2
Bond Yields Up, Stocks Under Pressure
Bond yields spiked at the start of the week, putting a squeeze on stock prices. The yield on the 30-year Treasury bond hit a 19-year high.
Markets continued their slide on Tuesday as investors fretted over inflation. Yields on bonds around the world rose to multi-decade highs.3,4
Stocks steadied, and bond yields fell midweek as investors responded to the Treasury Department’s announcement that it would buy back long-term debt to help stabilize interest rates. However, the Wednesday morning rally petered out as the session progressed into the afternoon.5,6
Stocks rebounded to finish a tough week on a positive note despite rising oil prices.7
A Bee in the Bonnet
Last week, yields on bonds issued by sovereign governments around the world rose to multi-year highs, including in Japan and throughout Europe.
Investors in these bonds decided they needed higher yields to compensate for ongoing global issues. As a result, the cost to borrow money went up. And because bond prices and yields move in opposite directions, the value of these bonds fell.
The Treasury Department stepped in on Wednesday to say that it would double the size of its current repurchases of longer-term (10- to 30-year) Treasury debt. It’s uncertain how the move could influence markets.8
This Week: Key Economic Data
Tuesday: S&P Cotality Case-Shiller Home Price Index. New Home Sales. Consumer Confidence (Conference Board).
Wednesday: Durable Goods. Gross Domestic Product (GDP), 2nd estimate. Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) Index.
Thursday: Weekly Jobless Claims. Trade Balance in Goods. Wholesale Inventories. Retail Inventories.
Friday: Consumer Sentiment (U. Michigan).
Source: Investor’s Business Daily – Econoday economic calendar: August 21, 2026. The Econoday economic calendar lists upcoming U.S. economic data releases (including key economic indicators), Federal Reserve policy meetings, and speaking engagements of Federal Reserve officials. The content is developed from sources believed to provide accurate information. The forecasts or forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and may not materialize. The forecasts are also subject to revision.
Week of August 10th Recap
Stocks were mixed over a sleepy summer week, as cooling inflation lifted markets while sluggish retail sales nipped at investor sentiment.
The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index added 0.36 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index edged up 0.14 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slid 0.56 percent. The MSCI EAFE Index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, advanced 0.26 percent.1,2
Third Straight for S&P 500
Stocks began the week with mild declines, with megacap tech names under pressure as investors anxiously awaited inflation updates.3
But spirits lifted midweek as a July inflation report showed consumer prices increased at a slower pace, leading investors to hope the Fed would not adjust rates at its next meeting.
The AI trade also jumped back into the driver’s seat to add momentum. The rebound rally extended into Thursday as investors cheered a cooler-than-expected report that showed wholesale inflation slowed over the prior month. Falling oil prices also gave stocks a boost.4,5
While stocks slipped slightly on Friday, the S&P 500 and Nasdaq each logged their third consecutive winning week.6
Inflation Cools, Spending Slows
Wednesday’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) report showed consumer prices rose 0.1 percent in July over the prior month and 3.4 percent over the prior 12 months. Both figures came in as expected, which was welcomed news for investors.
Thursday’s Producer Price Index (PPI) showed that the pace of wholesale inflation also slowed more than expected.7
But the inflation update was somewhat countered by news that consumers spent less in July. Economists expected a 0.1 percent increase in July retail sales over the prior month, but they actually fell 0.6 percent month-over-month.8
This Week: Key Economic Data
Monday: NAHB Housing Market Index.
Tuesday: Housing Starts. Import Prices. Industrial Production. Capacity Utilization. Pending Home Sales.
Wednesday: Fed Meeting Minutes from July published.
Thursday: Weekly Jobless Claims. Leading Indicators.
Friday: Purchasing Managers Index (PMI)—Manufacturing. PMI—Services.
Source: Investor’s Business Daily – Econoday economic calendar: August 14, 2026. The Econoday economic calendar lists upcoming U.S. economic data releases (including key economic indicators), Federal Reserve policy meetings, and speaking engagements of Federal Reserve officials. The content is developed from sources believed to provide accurate information. The forecasts or forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and may not materialize. The forecasts are also subject to revision.
Week of August 3rd Recap
Stocks bolted ahead last week as investors cheered the last big week of Q2 corporate reports and a Friday jobs update that put the spotlight on the Fed’s next move with short-term rates.
The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index advanced 3.57 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index gained 5.19 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 2.96 percent. The MSCI EAFE Index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, added 2.32 percent.1,2
Best Week in Nearly 4 Months
Stocks opened the week strong as oil prices slid on news of diplomatic efforts in the Middle East. Big Tech led, which helped push the Dow Industrials to a record close.3
Investor optimism continued to build on Tuesday as stocks opened higher and climbed throughout the day. Strong Q2 corporate reports added fuel to the rally, lifting all three averages into a second day of robust gains.4
Markets opened higher on Wednesday but lost momentum as the day progressed. On Thursday, oil prices crept higher, and stocks went sideways as investors awaited updates on the Middle East and digested the final big trove of Q2 corporate results.5,6
Then, on Friday, an unexpected contraction in the labor market boosted stocks as investors hoped the jobs data might influence the Fed’s outlook for short-term rates.
Each major average logged its best weekly gain since mid-April.7
Source: YCharts.com, August 8, 2026. Weekly performance is measured from Monday, August 3 to Friday, August 7. TR = total return for the index, which includes any dividends as well as any other cash distributions during the period. Treasury note yield is expressed in basis points.
Labor Market Update
The economy unexpectedly shed 23,000 jobs in July, based on the Labor Department’s report released Friday. Economists expected 83,000 jobs to be created. July’s decline was the first monthly contraction in the labor market since February.8
Additionally, the number of jobs added in May and June was revised down by 103,000, reinforcing evidence of a cooling job market. Meanwhile, unemployment edged down to 4.1 percent as fewer people looked for work.8
This Week: Key Economic Data
Tuesday: NFIB Small Business Optimism Index. Existing Home Sales. New York Fed Q2 Household Debt & Credit Report.
Wednesday: Consumer Price Index (CPI). Monthly Treasury Balance.
Thursday: Fed Speeches: Beth Hammack (Cleveland) and Thomas Barkin (Richmond). Weekly Jobless Claims. Producer Price Index (PPI).
Friday: Retail Sales. Manufacturing & Trade: Inventories. University of Michigan Consumer Survey.
Source: Investors Business Daily – Econoday economic calendar; August 7, 2026. The Econoday economic calendar lists upcoming U.S. economic data releases (including key economic indicators), Federal Reserve policy meetings, and speaking engagements of Federal Reserve officials. The content is developed from sources believed to provide accurate information. The forecasts or forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and may not materialize. The forecasts are also subject to revision.
