Weekly Stock Market Update | Dow, S&P 500, NASDAQ News – July 20, 2025 at 07:01 AM

This week has seen mixed results in the stock market. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 142.30 points or 0.32%, settling at 44,342.19 after reports that President Trump pushed for increased tariffs on the European Union. On the other hand, the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite posted weekly gains, rising by 0.6% and 1.5% respectively.

The main gainers this week were PepsiCo and United Airlines, both of which saw shares climb after beating earnings estimates. Meanwhile, Nvidia gained 4% in the tech sector, adding to the upward trajectory of the Nasdaq. Tesla and Alphabet also experienced a positive week in anticipation of excellent results from their upcoming earnings reports.

Netflix, however, slid 5% following announcements that its operating margin in the latter half of this year will likely be lower than the first half. Other underperformers included Wells Fargo and BlackRock, whose shares fell due to disappointing earnings news. The drop in shares of 3M and American Express also contributed to the Dow’s downward trend.

Inflation fears decreased, pushing consumer sentiment to its highest level since February. However, ongoing uncertainty around President Trump’s tariffs and lofty valuations remain obstacles for the market.

Solid economic data and robust earnings from many companies provided a boost to investor confidence. Approximately 83% of the 12% of S&P 500 companies that have reported results so far have beaten estimates.

Going forward, investors will monitor incoming earnings reports and economic data, along with the potential impact of the proposed tariffs on the EU, as calls for federal rate cuts grow more nuanced.

The Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) and the S&P 500 (^GSPC) edged towards record highs this week despite tariff-related tensions and the reportedly impending dismissal of Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell by President Trump. The Nasdaq Composite rose slightly to attain a new record while both the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) fell by 0.3%.

Following last week’s gains, the Nasdaq Composite increased by more than 1.6% and the S&P 500 rose by about 0.7%, leaving the Dow Jones almost flat. The S&P 500 stands at 6,263.70 following an increase of 0.32%. Meanwhile, the Nasdaq Composite added 0.26% to close at 20,730.49, marking its ninth record close of the year, while the Dow Jones added 231.49 points, or 0.53%, ending at 44,254.78.

Major losers in the stock market this week include Netflix, whose Q2 results failed to impress the market, leading to a drop in the company’s stocks. In contrast, American Express, Bank of America, Johnson & Johnson, Morgan Stanley, and Goldman Sachs all enjoyed a rise in their stocks following their strong Q2 results.

This week also saw fashion brand Burberry’s stocks rise in London as it reported a smaller-than-anticipated drop in sales, indicating progress under the new CEO Joshua Schulman’s turnaround plan. This resulted in retail revenues falling by 6% to £433m for the 13 weeks to June 28, a deceleration in the downturn of Burberry’s sales. However, the S&P 500 is currently expected to report a growth in earnings of 5.6% compared to the same quarter last year.

While President Trump has strongly criticized Powell’s management of the Federal Reserve, he has denied reports suggesting imminent plans to dismiss Powell. Banks and large financial institutions have generally opposed this potential move, stating their belief that Powell’s management of the Fed has been effective.