U.S. stocks traded mostly flat on Monday (August 18) after a strong performance last week, as investors turned cautious ahead of key retail earnings and a closely watched speech by Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell at the annual Jackson Hole Economic Symposium.
At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 34.30 points, or 0.08%, to 44,911.82. The S&P 500 edged down 0.01% to 6,449.15, while the Nasdaq Composite inched up 0.03% to 21,629.77.
Technology shares weighed on the broader market, with Meta Platforms falling 2.3% and Microsoft losing 0.6%.
This week, investors are eyeing quarterly results from major retailers including Home Depot, Lowe’s, Walmart, and Target, seeking clues about the health of U.S. consumer spending. Concerns over stretched valuations, tariffs, and slowing job growth remain central themes shaping sentiment in the second half of the year.
Market analysts warn that upcoming earnings could reveal mounting pressure from inflation, trade policy, and recession risks on household consumption.
Attention is also firmly on the Federal Reserve, as central bankers gather in Jackson Hole, Wyoming for their annual economic policy symposium. Powell’s remarks are expected to provide critical insights into the Fed’s interest rate trajectory.
According to the CME FedWatch Tool, markets are pricing in an 83% probability that the Fed will cut rates at its next policy meeting in September 2025. Investors are betting that the central bank will move more decisively to support growth amid signs of economic slowdown.
Tiếng Việt
English
