PrimeFinanceDaily's Weekly Stock Market Recap

📅 August 25–29, 2025

I.  The Week in a Nutshell

This week, markets grappled with mixed economic signals and a highly anticipated speech from Fed Chair Jerome Powell, leading to a late-week rally and a shifting sentiment on Wall Street. Investors responded to dovish tones from the Fed and encouraging economic data, which helped stabilize major indices after a volatile start. For a deeper dive into this week’s macro overview, visit our .

The Dow Jones Industrial Average posted modest gains, the S&P 500 ended flat, and the Nasdaq Composite rallied late in the week—each reflecting the tug-of-war between rate expectations and earnings optimism.

II. Key Market Performance

The final weekly numbers for major U.S. indices revealed a mixed but resilient market tone. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed at 38,920, up 0.6%, briefly touching a new intraday high of 39,200 before retreating. The S&P 500 finished at 5,030, nearly unchanged, with Energy and Financials offsetting weakness in healthcare. Meanwhile, the Nasdaq Composite surged 1.4% to 15,870, lifted by strong tech earnings and renewed investor appetite for growth stocks.

Beyond equities, other key assets showed notable moves. The 10-Year Treasury Yield rose to 4.25%, signaling caution ahead of Powell’s remarks. Crude oil climbed 3.2% to $83.40/barrel, while gold slipped 0.8% to $1,920/oz. The U.S. Dollar Index strengthened to 104.6. For full weekly charts and sector breakdowns, check out our .

III. Major News and Drivers

The biggest market mover this week was the Fed’s Jackson Hole Symposium, where Jerome Powell hinted at a possible rate cut in September. His speech struck a balance between caution and optimism, reassuring investors that inflation is cooling while economic growth remains intact. This dovish pivot sparked a rally across rate-sensitive sectors. For Powell’s full remarks and analysis, visit our .

Economic data also played a key role. The U.S. Composite PMI rose to 55.4, indicating expansion, while jobless claims came in lower than expected at 215,000. These figures supported the Fed’s outlook and boosted market confidence. You can explore the full data set on our .

On the corporate front, Nvidia delivered blockbuster earnings, with a 22% YoY revenue jump. The stock soared 8% post-report. Meanwhile, private equity exit activity surged, with deal volumes up 104% YoY—signaling a rebound in M&A and IPO markets. For earnings highlights and deal news, visit our .

IV. Weekly Highlights: Top Performers & Underperformers

Sector performance was mixed, with Energy leading the pack—up 3.5% thanks to rising oil prices and hurricane-related supply concerns. Financials gained 2.1% on rate cut optimism, while Real Estate rose 1.8% amid falling bond yields. For sector-by-sector analysis, head to our .

On the flip side, Technology dipped 0.9% due to profit-taking in AI stocks, and Healthcare fell 1.2% amid regulatory uncertainty.

Among individual stocks, the top three winners were:

Nio Inc. (+12.4%) – Strong EV delivery numbers and bullish analyst upgrades.

Dayforce (+9.8%) – Major enterprise software deal announcement.

Shoals Technologies (+8.6%) – Rising solar demand and favorable policy news.

The week’s underperformers included:

James Hardie Industries (−7.2%) – Weak guidance and slowing construction demand.

Reddit Inc. (−6.5%) – Disappointing ad revenue and user metrics.

Coty Inc. (−5.9%) – Margin pressure and cautious consumer outlook.

For full stock performance tables and charts, visit our

V. Looking Ahead: What to Watch Next Week

Next week’s calendar is packed with market-moving events. The Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) Index, the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge, will be released Thursday and could confirm the case for a rate cut. Several major companies—including Salesforce, Broadcom, and Dollar General—are set to report earnings. For a full preview, visit our .

Also, keep an eye on speeches from Fed officials and global developments, especially China’s stimulus measures and EU inflation data, which could influence global sentiment.

This week marked a shift in investor sentiment, with Powell’s dovish tone and strong economic data fueling optimism. While risks remain, the market seems poised for a stronger Q3 finish. Will this momentum carry forward—or are we due for a correction?

Stay tuned for next week’s recap, and explore more insights on our . Don’t forget to subscribe to PrimeFinanceDaily for real-time updates and deep dives into market trends.