Weekly Market Update | Week 21, 2025


Continued strong outperformance last week for developed international, as the EAFE rose 1.3% while the S&P 500 fell 2.6% to close at 5,802. YTD the EAFE index is up over 15% while the S&P500 fell back into negative territory for the year, down  1.3%. Despite this, the index remains up 4.2% for May. The pullback ended a short-lived relief rally that had temporarily pushed the S&P into the black for the first time in months. Renewed trade tensions were the primary driver, as President Trump threatened a 50% tariff on EU goods and a 25% tariff on Apple iPhones produced abroad.

All 11 S&P sectors posted weekly losses, led by energy (-4.4%), technology (-3.5%), and real estate (-3.3%). Consumer discretionary and financials both fell 3.1%, while consumer staples saw the smallest drop at just 0.4%. Technology was further weighed down by declines in solar stocks after a GOP-backed tax bill threatened clean energy credits. Other major U.S. equity indices also declined, ending a streak of gains, including a six-week winning run for the Russell 2000. The broader pullback left big tech lower across the board, with AAPL dropping 7.6%—the largest decline among the Mag 7.

On the macro front, markets began the week digesting Moody’s downgrade of U.S. government debt, citing persistent deficits and rising interest costs. While the downgrade had limited immediate market impact, it came amid concerns about increased Treasury issuance and bond demand, particularly after a weak 20-year bond auction on last Wednesday. Meanwhile, deficits remained in focus with the House GOP’s passage of Trump’s tax-and-spending bill, though the market response was tepid amid skepticism that potential growth effects would offset trade drag and higher rates.

Treasury yields moved higher, especially on the long end, with the 30-year yield rising 14 basis points to just above 5%. The U.S. dollar weakened broadly, particularly against the yen, ending a four-week winning streak. Gold jumped 5.6%, while WTI crude dipped 0.7% amid geopolitical uncertainty and OPEC+ production speculation. Treasury Secretary Bessent remained optimistic about upcoming trade deals and continued U.S.-China negotiations, noting that May 24 marks the halfway point in the 90-day tariff pause announced in April.

Amid these headwinds, there were a few bright spots. Retailers posted improved comps, preliminary May PMI data was constructive, and April new-home sales were strong. Looking ahead, markets will digest a wave of earnings—including Nvidia’s report on Wednesday—as well as key economic data: April durable goods orders, May consumer confidence, and April PCE.

Fixed Income

Fixed Income: For all the noise on rates, the US 10 Year Treasury is down 5bps year-to-date. The 30 year on the other hand is up about 25bps YTD and pushing on the upper end of 5 year highs.

 May FOMC Statement   March Minutes   Credit, Liquidity and Balance Sheet    Federal Reserve Dot Plots  

Treasury.gov yields    FOMC Policy Normalization Statement     Longer- Run Goals Jan 2024

Foreign Exchange Market

Energy Complex

The Baker Hughes rig count  fell by 2 last week. There are 566 oil and gas rigs operating in the US – Down 34 from last year.

Employment Picture 

April Jobs Report –  BLS Summary  Released 5/2/2025  –  The US Economyadded 177k nonfarm jobs in April and the Unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.2%. Average hourly earnings increased 6 cents to $36.06.  Hiring highlights include +51k Healthcare, +8k Social Assistance, +14k Financial Activities, and +29k Transportation and Warehousing.

  • Average hourly earnings increased 6 cents/0.2% to $36.06.
  • U3 unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.2%. U6 unemployment rate decreased 0.1% to 7.8%.
  • The labor force participation rate was little changed at 62.6%.
  • Average work week was unchanged at 34.3 hours.

Weekly Unemployment Claims – Released Thursday 5/17/2025 – In the week ending May 17, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 227,000, a decrease of 2,000 from the previous week’s unrevised level of 229,000. The 4-week moving average was 231,500, an increase of 1,000 from the previous week’s unrevised average of 230,500

Employment Cost Index – Released 4/30/2025 – Compensation costs for civilian workers increased 0.9% for the 3-month period ending in March 2025. Wages and salaries increased 0.8% and benefit costs increased 1.2% from 2024. The 12-month period ending in March 2025 saw compensation costs increase by 3.6%. The 12-month period ending March 2024 increased 4.2%. Wages and salaries increased 3.5 percent over the 12-month period ending in March 2025 and increased 4.4 percent for the 12-month period ending in March 2024. Benefit costs increased 3.8 percent over the 12-month period and increased 3.7 percent for the 12-month period ending in March 2024. This report is published quarterly.

Job Openings & Labor Turnover Survey JOLTS – Released 4/29/2025 – The number of job openings was little changed at 7.2 million on the last business day of March, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. Over the month the number of hires and total separations was little changed at 5.4 million and 5.1 million, respectively. Within separations, quits (3.3 million) and discharges (1.6 million) changed little.

This Week’s Economic Data- Blue links take you to data source

New Residential Sales – Released 5/23/2025 – Sales of new single-family houses in April 2025 were at a seasonally-adjusted annual rate of 743,000, according to estimates released jointly by the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development. This is 10.9 percent above the March 2025 rate of 670,000, and is 3.3 percent above the April 2024 rate of 719,000. The estimate of new houses for sale at the end of April 2025 was 504,000. This is 0.6 percent below the March 2025 estimate of 507,000. The average sales price of new houses sold in April 2025 was $518,400

Existing Home Sales – Released 5/22/2025 – Existing-home sales slid 0.5% month-over-month to a seasonally adjusted rate of 4.00 million in April 2025. Year-over-year, sales retreated 2.0%.

Recent Economic Data – Blue Links bring you to data source

Housing Starts– Released 5/16/2025 – March housing starts came in at 1,361,000, this ia 1.6%  above the March rate. Building permits were 4.7% below the March.

Industrial Production and Capacity Utilization – Released 5/15/2025 – Industrial production was little changed in April as declines in manufacturing and mining output were offset by growth in utilities output. The index for manufacturing decreased 0.4 percent after increasing 0.4 percent in March. In April, manufacturing output excluding motor vehicles and parts decreased 0.3 percent. The index for mining fell 0.3 percent, and the index for utilities rose 3.3 percent. At 103.9 percent of its 2017 average, total IP in April was 1.5 percent above its year-earlier level. Capacity utilization edged down to 77.7 percent, a rate that is 1.9 percentage points below its long-run (1972–2024) average

Retail Sales– Released 5/15/2025 – Headline retail sales, were $724.1 billion, up 0.1 percent from the previous month, and up 5.2 percent from April 2024.

Producer Price Index – Released 5/15/2025 – The Producer Price Index for final demand fell 0.5 percent in April, seasonally adjusted, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Final demand prices were unchanged in March and increased 0.2 percent in February. (See table A.) On an unadjusted basis, the index for final demand rose 2.4 percent for the 12 months ended in April.

Consumer Price Index  Released 5/13/2025  The Consumer Price Index for increased 0.2 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis in April, after falling 0.1 percent in March, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 2.3 percent before seasonal adjustment.

Consumer Credit  Released 5/7/2025 – Consumer credit increased at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.5 percent during the first quarter. Revolving credit increased at an annual rate of 2.3 percent, while nonrevolving credit increased at an annual rate of 1.2 percent. In March, consumer credit increased at an annual rate of 2.4 percent.

U.S. Trade Balance – Released 5/6/2025 – The U.S. monthly international trade deficit increased in March 2025 according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis and the U.S. Census Bureau. The deficit increased from $123.2 billion in February (revised) to $140.5 billion in March, as imports increased more than exports. The goods deficit increased $16.5 billion in March to $163.5 billion. The services surplus decreased $0.8 billion in March to $23.0 billion

PMI Non-Manufacturing Index – Released 5/3/2025 – Economic activity in the services sector expanded for the 10th consecutive month in April. The Services PMI® registered 51.6 percent, indicating expansion for the 56th time in 59 months since recovery from the coronavirus pandemic-induced recession began in June 2020.

PMI Manufacturing Index – Released 5/1/2025 – The April Manufacturing PMI registered 48.7 percent, 0.3 percent lower compared to March. The overall economy continued in expansion for the 60th month after one month of contraction in April 2020. The New Orders Index continued in contraction territory, registering 47.2 percent, 2.0 percentage points higher than the 45.2 percent recorded in March. The April reading of the Production Index (44.0 percent) is 4.3 percentage points lower than March’s figure of 48.3 percent.

U.S. Construction Spending– Released 5/1/2025 – Construction spending during March 2025 was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $2,196.1 billion, down 0.5 percent from the February estimate of $2,206.9 billion. The March figure is 2.8 percent above the March 2024 estimate of $2,135.8 billion.

Chicago PMI – Released 4/30/2025 – Chicago PMI remained in contraction territory in April and fell to 44.6 from 47.6 points in March. The latest reading indicated that Chicago’s economic activity contracted for the 17th successive month in April.

US Light Vehicle Sales– Released 4/30/2025 – U.S. light vehicle sales were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of 17.833 million units in March.

Personal Income – Released 4/30/2025 – Personal income increased $116.8 billion (0.5 percent at a monthly rate) in March. Disposable personal income (DPI)—personal income less personal current taxes—increased $102.0 billion (0.5 percent). Personal consumption expenditures (PCE) increased $134.5 billion (0.7 percent).

Advance Estimate of 1st Quarter 2025 GDP – Released 4/30/2025 – Real gross domestic product (GDP) decreased at an annual rate of 0.3 percent in the first quarter of 2025, according to the “advance” estimate released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. In the fourth quarter of 2024, real GDP increased 2.4 percent. The decrease in real GDP in the first quarter primarily reflected an increase in imports, which are a subtraction in the calculation of GDP, and a decrease in government spending. These movements were partly offset by increases in investment, consumer spending, and exports.

Consumer Confidence– Released 4/29/2025  Consumer Confidence decreased from 92.9 to 86.0 in April. The Present Situation Index which is based on consumers’ assessment of current business and labor market conditions, decreased 0.9 points to 133.5. The Expectations Index which is based on consumers’ short-term outlook for income, business, and labor market conditions, dropped 12.5 points to 54.4, the lowest level since October 2011 and well below the threshold of 80 that usually signals a recession ahead.

U.S. Trade Balance – Released 5/6/2025 – The U.S. monthly international trade deficit increased in March 2025 according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis and the U.S. Census Bureau. The deficit increased from $123.2 billion in February (revised) to $140.5 billion in March, as imports increased more than exports. The goods deficit increased $16.5 billion in March to $163.5 billion. The services surplus decreased $0.8 billion in March to $23.0 billion

Durable Goods – Released 4/24/2025 – New orders for manufactured durable goods in March, up three consecutive months, increased $26.6 billion or 9.2% to $315.7 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced today. This followed a 0.9% February increase. Excluding transportation, new orders were virtually unchanged. Excluding defense, new orders increased 10.4%. Transportation equipment, also up three consecutive months, led the increase, $26.5 billion or 27.0% to $124.6 billion.

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Data Sources: 

Conference Board Economic Indicators   Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA)   Congressional Budget Office (CBO)     U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)    Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED Charts)

CME Fed Watch   U.S. Treasury – Yields   U.S. Census Bureau    Institute for Supply Management (ISM)    Weekly DOL Employment Data    BLS Monthly Jobs Report    JOLTS      All capital in one visualization 2020

US Energy Admn (EIA)   BLS Consumer Price Index CPI      BLS Producer Price Index PPIAtlanta Fed GDPNOW    NY Fed Nowcast GDP     US Census Bureau Housing Starts   U.S. Energy Admn

Consumer Credit  USCB Retail Sales   Construction Spending      Federal Reserve Dot Plots 2017   NY Empire Index    Philadelphia Federal Reserve   P/E Ratio Data -Yardeni Research

Technical Analysis Info: Koyfin.com  StockCharts.com – Financial Charts    Exponential vs Simple Moving Average

Other links: 1973 Arab Oil Embargo    Hunt Brothers Silver    Asian Contagion   Long-Term Capital bailout