Wall Street has come a long way from an April sell-off as investor optimism over trade agreements and a cooling of tensions in the Middle East helped lift stocks to record highs last week. The S&P 500 and the NASDAQ each hit new highs. Despite inflationary data coming in slightly above expectations, price pressures remained […]
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New Tax Legislation: What’s on the Table
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, narrowly passed the House of Representatives on May 22, 2025. The legislation is now being deliberated in the Senate, after the Senate Committee on Finance released its own version of proposed tax provisions on June 16, 2025. This legislation is being […]
Read MoreThe Markets (as of market close June 20, 2025)
Stocks closed the week with mixed results as investors weighed the escalating tensions in the Middle East against the likelihood of the Federal Reserve cutting interest rates amidst an apparent disagreement between Federal Reserve governors. The Dow, the NASDAQ, and the Russell 2000 closed the week higher, while the S&P 500 and the Global Dow […]
Read MoreThe Markets (as of market close June 13, 2025)
Unrest in the Middle East dragged stock values lower last week, while pushing gold and crude oil prices higher. For much of the week, investors focused on trade talks between the U.S. and China, which ultimately did not result in a significant breakthrough in trade relations and left tariffs at relatively elevated levels. However, favorable […]
Read MoreInterest Rates on Federal Student Loans Drop Slightly for 2025-2026
Every May, interest rates on federal student loans are reset for the upcoming school year. The rates are calculated by combining the yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury note with an additional fixed amount set by Congress. Based on this calculation, interest rates on federal student loans are set to decrease slightly for the 2025-2026 […]
Read MoreThe Markets (as of market close June 6, 2025)
Wall Street ended last week on a positive note, with each of the benchmark indexes listed here closing higher. The S&P 500 rose to its highest level since February, boosted by guarded optimism around U.S.-China trade talks and a better-than-expected jobs report (see below). However, unemployment claims rose to their highest level in eight months, […]
Read MoreThe Markets (as of market close May 30, 2025)
Despite a dip at the end of the week, stocks closed last week higher as investors digested renewed trade tensions with China, while inflation showed signs of cooling. Each of the benchmark indexes ended the week higher, riding solid gains in tech shares. All of the market sectors closed the week with gains, with notable […]
Read MoreMoody’s Downgraded U.S. Debt: Does It Matter?
On Friday, May 16, 2025, Moody’s Ratings downgraded its rating on U.S. government long-term debt from its highest rating of Aaa to the next highest rating of Aa1. The move was particularly significant because Moody’s was the last of the Big Three credit rating agencies to maintain the triple-A rating for U.S. debt. S&P Global […]
Read MoreThe Markets (as of market close May 23, 2025)
Stocks tumbled last week as traders contemplated the potential impact of new legislation and increased trade tensions following President Trump’s threat of new tariffs against the European Union and Apple. While stocks declined, long-term bond yields rose, with 10-year Treasuries reaching a three-month high of 4.64% last Thursday before settling at 4.51% by the end […]
Read MoreThe Markets (as of market close May 16, 2025)
Wall Street enjoyed one of its best weeks in quite some time as stocks moved higher by the close of trading last Friday. Each of the benchmark indexes posted solid weekly gains on the heels of easing U.S.-China trade tensions. The 90-day tariff truce helped drive the S&P 500 back into positive territory for the […]
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