Market Volatility and Tech Retreat Dominate Trading Week
U.S. equities closed a turbulent week with modest losses as a Friday rally offset earlier declines. The S&P 500 dipped 0.31%, while the Nasdaq-100 and Dow Jones fell 0.50% and 0.15% respectively, ending their three-week winning streak. Historical trends suggested worse outcomes—week 39 typically sees the S&P's highest frequency of 1%+ drops since 1990.
Tech giants paused their rally, dragging indexes lower. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's neutral policy remarks and cautious signals from other officials dampened sentiment. Despite Monday's record highs, markets grappled with tempered expectations for monetary easing.