Stock Market Update and August Outlook
The U.S. stock market showed resilience in July 2025, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq reaching record highs despite ongoing trade policy uncertainties. The Dow also trended upward, nearing its first record high of the year. Strong corporate earnings, with 80% of S&P 500 companies beating expectations, and a robust labor market with a 4.1% unemployment rate supported market gains. Technology and consumer cyclical sectors led, with gains of 10.3% and 8.9%, respectively. However, tariff-related concerns introduced volatility, keeping investors cautious.