This roundup of top financial news for the week presented by Matt Glova and the LifeTime Asset Management team:
Month-End Market Update, February 28, 2025
Quick Highlights:
1. Challenging Month for Markets — February was a challenging month for U.S. stocks.
2. Bonds Continue to Rise — Falling interest rates supported bond returns in February.
3. Solid Economic Backdrop — The economic updates showed signs of healthy growth for now.
4. Risks to Monitor — Markets face a variety of risks in the months ahead.
5. Cautiously Optimistic Outlook — We believe the most likely path forward is for continued market appreciation and economic growth.
Click here to read the full monthly market report published February 28, 2025.
Weekly Market Update, February 24, 2025
Housing data was notably weak, with home builder sentiment, housing starts, and existing home sales surprising to the downside. Softening housing data may be welcomed by the Fed as it tries to tamp down inflation. This was reflected in January’s FOMC minutes, which signaled a potentially lengthy pause in rate cuts. Soft economic data and weak guidance from Walmart led equities lower. Short-to-intermediate-term bonds saw buying amid uncertainty around economic growth.
Click here to read the full weekly market report published February 24, 2025.
Weekly Market Update, February 18, 2025
The biggest news was the CPI and PPI being hotter than expected, leading to concerns that inflation may be reaccelerating. Small business optimism ticked lower, and retail sales posted a notable miss. Technology stocks led the way in the U.S., with Nvidia and Apple posting large moves. The Treasury yield curve didn’t move much despite midweek volatility caused by inflation data.
Click here to read the full weekly market report published February 18, 2025.
Weekly Market Update, February 10, 2025
Manufacturer confidence improved more than expected in January, but the service sector was weaker than expected. Manufacturer confidence improved more than expected in January, but the service sector was weaker than expected. Consumer sentiment was lower than expected as consumers’ expectations for inflation rose. International stocks continued their outperformance.
Click here to read the full weekly market report published February 10, 2025.
Weekly Market Update, February 3, 2025
Consumers showed mixed signals to start the year; consumer confidence was lower than expected but personal spending beat expectations. As widely anticipated, the Fed kept rates steady. Fourth-quarter GDP was lower than expected, partly due to a decline in inventories. The MSCI EAFE Index, which does not carry exposure to Canada, Mexico, or China, led the way. Bonds moved slightly lower amid DeepSeek and tariff concerns.
Click here to read the full weekly market report published February 3, 2025.
Month-End Market Update, January 31, 2025
Quick Highlights:
1. Markets Rally in January — Markets rebounded in January after mixed results in December.
2. Bonds Rise as Interest Rates Fall — Falling long-term interest rates caused bonds to rise.
3. Healthy Economic Backdrop — The economic updates released in January showed continued healthy economic growth.
4. Risks Ahead — Investors should prepare for potential risks ahead.
5. Solid Outlook Despite Policy Uncertainty — We believe the most likely path forward is for continued market appreciation and economic growth.
Click here to read the full monthly market report published January 31, 2025.