T&G Market Recap: Nasdaq Logs Best Week of 2025 š as Dow and S&P 500 Keep Gaining š¼
Stocks mixed on Friday but maintain strong weekly gains, with key data and tariff news on the table.
US stocks closed mixed on Friday as investors digested inflation data, retail sales numbers, and news surrounding President Trump's tariff updates. The Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) gained 0.4%, wrapping up its best week of 2025, while the S&P 500 (^GSPC) slipped slightly. However, both indexes have now notched their third consecutive weekly gains. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) fell 0.3% after a strong Thursday rally.
Retail Sales Drop Amid Inflation Concerns šļøšø
In another sign of economic pressure, retail sales saw their biggest drop in a year, falling 0.9% in January, well below the expected 0.2% decline. This marked the largest monthly drop since January 2024, signaling that the consumer sector may be feeling the impact of rising inflation and slower spending.
Retail sales drop: Biggest decline since January 2024
Inflation watch: Two hot inflation reports this week left markets pondering the Fedās next steps.
Tariff News: Trump Delays Reciprocal Tariffs šØ
Markets were also reacting to Trumpās tariff announcements, which included reciprocal tariffs on US trading partners. These tariffs are set to be implemented in April but give countries time to negotiate. Trump suggested tariffs on automobiles might be next, fueling ongoing concerns about trade wars.
Big Stock Movers on Friday š
Airbnb (ABNB) saw a 15% surge after beating quarterly earnings expectations š„.
GameStop (GME) popped amid speculation it will move into cryptocurrency, including bitcoin š°.
Moderna (MRNA) posted a larger-than-expected earnings loss, sending shares down š.
Tech Stocks: Nvidia, Apple, and Meta Lead Gains š»š±
Big tech stocks continued their strong performance, with Nvidia (NVDA), Apple (AAPL), and Meta (META) all gaining over the week.
Nvidia was on track for a 6% weekly gain š, benefiting from AI chip talks and new equity moves.
Apple outperformed with a 7% gain over the week š.
Meta hit new all-time highs as it continues to perform strong in 2025 š±.
Intelās Major Rally š„
Intel (INTC) saw a 23% weekly gain, marking its largest rally since 2000 š. This surge came after US Vice President JD Vance praised domestic AI chip production, which sent Intel's stock flying.
Retail and Inflation Data Continue to Impact Markets š
Despite positive moves in some sectors, retail sales and inflation data weighed heavily on the markets. January retail sales showed a larger-than-expected decline of 0.9%, while Januaryās inflation readings kept the Fedās path uncertain.
Notable Moves in the Oil Market š¢ļø
Oil prices swung between gains and losses on Friday as traders evaluated the impact of US tariffs and potential supply constraints due to the Iranian policy shift.
West Texas Intermediate and Brent crude futures were slightly down as traders await US-China trade developments š.
In Other News š
China invited Jack Ma of Alibaba and the DeepSeek founder to meet with President Xi Jinping, signaling a shift toward supporting the private sector š.
Sony (SONY) stock jumped 11% in Tokyo following an upward revision of its profit forecast, driven by the strong performance of its gaming division š®.
In Summary š
Nasdaq finished its best week of 2025 with a 0.4% gain š.
Retail sales showed a big decline š, while inflation concerns persist.
Tech stocks like Meta, Nvidia, and Apple continue to lead the market š„.
Trumpās tariff delays offer some optimism, but the market remains cautious due to ongoing trade tensions š.