11/03/2025
REVIEW OF LAST WEEK
WINNING MONTH... The three major indexes notched weekly and monthly wins, as traders sent stocks northward, buoyed by a quarter point Fed rate cut, a U.S.-China trade deal, and better-than-expected Q3 corporate earnings.
Fed chair Jerome Powell turned hawkish in his presser, warning us that we shouldn't take a rate cut in December for granted, but the futures market still booked a better than 60% chance we'll get one.
The Consumer Confidence Index didn't show much change in October, but there wasn't a lot more economic data, courtesy of the government shutdown. Instead, traders rallied around the booming investment in AI.
The week ended with the Dow UP 0.8%, to 47,563; the S&P 500 UP 0.7%, to 6,840; and the Nasdaq UP 2.2%, to 23,725.
Bonds headed in the other direction, the 30-Year UMBS 5.0% down 56 basis points, to 99.17. The national average 30-year fixed mortgage rate decreased for the fourth consecutive week in Freddie Mac’s weekly Primary Mortgage Market Survey. Remember, mortgage rates can be extremely volatile, so check with your mortgage professional for up-to-the-minute information. 630-881-8655