Stock Market News Today, 8/19/25 – U.S. Stock Futures Slip as Traders Await Fed’s Jackson Hole Summit and Retail Earnings
Futures dip as Wall Street holds its breath for Powell's Jackson Hole speech—because apparently we still hang on every word from central bankers in 2025.
Retail Earnings Watch
Major retailers set to report this week while everyone wonders if consumer spending can defy gravity without the crypto-fueled wealth effect that used to pump markets.
Fed's Favorite Theater
The annual Jackson Hole circus returns with traders pretending to care about macroeconomic nuance while secretly just wanting dovish soundbites to justify their leveraged positions.
Traditional markets looking shaky? Maybe it's time that capital found its way into assets that don't depend on bureaucratic pronouncements from Wyoming mountain resorts.
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In Monday’s trading session, major indexes ended mostly flat as traders evaluated the outcome of the Trump-Zelenskyy meeting. Following the talks, TRUMP suggested that Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin hold a one-on-one meeting to advance peace negotiations. The S&P 500 closed with a 0.01% loss, while the Nasdaq 100 inched higher by less than 0.01% and the Dow Jones ended down 0.08%.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration is reportedly considering buying a 10% stake in Intel (INTC) valued at $10.5 billion, according to Bloomberg. Intel is set to receive $10.9 billion through the Chips Act, which the government could use to fund the investment, potentially making it the company’s largest shareholder.
At the same time, Japan’s investment conglomerate, SoftBank Group (SFTBY), announced that it will invest $2 billion in Intel, furthering its commitment to advanced technology and semiconductor equipment in the U.S.
On the economic front, data on Building Permits and Housing Starts are expected today. Both are considered leading indicators of future construction activity, the strength of the housing market, and overall economic health.
Turning to the earnings season, home improvement retailer Home Depot (HD) is set to report its second-quarter results before the bell today.
Meanwhile, the U.S. 10-year Treasury yield was up, floating NEAR 4.34%. WTI crude oil futures were trending lower, hovering near $63.02 per barrel as of the last check. Additionally, the Gold Spot U.S. dollar price increased to nearly $3,383 per ounce on Tuesday.
Elsewhere, European stocks opened higher after the Trump-Zelenskyy meeting boosted hopes for peace in Ukraine.
Asia-Pacific Markets Traded Lower Today
Asia-Pacific markets traded mostly lower today after SoftBank announced a $2 billion investment in Intel, valuing the company’s common stock at $23 per share.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index fell by 0.21%. In China, the Shanghai Composite index ended down 0.02%, while the Shenzhen Component slid 0.06%. Japan’s Nikkei declined 0.38%, and the Topix fell 0.14%.
