1. Moving the market

Today’s stock market breathed a sigh of relief after a tough week, led by a solid rally sparked by Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s speech at Jackson Hole last week and Trump’s firing of Fed governor Cook.  

It’s my opinion Powell’s message opened the door to a possible interest-rate cut in September, which really energized investors.

The way I see it, Powell’s acknowledgment of the fragile balance between inflation and a weakening labor market gave traders reason to hope the Fed might ease soon—but he was cautious, stressing the need to wait for incoming data first. That blend of optimism and caution set the tone for today’s gains.

Bond yields eased off a bit today, which helped soothe pressure on stocks—especially the rate-sensitive sectors. Meanwhile, technology and the Mag 7 stocks bounced back with a nice lift after a rough few days earlier this week, showing some renewed faith in growth names.

The dollar took a dive, adding further fuel to risk assets, while gold extended its gains, but is still stuck in its recent sideways groove. Interestingly, Bitcoin jumped, benefiting from the overall risk-on mood among investors.

This rally is a welcome break, but the way I see it, traders are still watching Powell and upcoming data closely.

The big question remains: Is this the start of a sustained rally fueled by rate cuts, or just a short-lived relief rally before volatility returns?

1. Moving the market

Wall Street turned in a steady performance today after a bumpy start to the week. The major indexes ended slightly higher: the S&P 500 gained 0.4%, the Nasdaq rose 0.44%, and the Dow edged up 0.3%.

I believe traders are keeping a close eye on ongoing drama between the White House and the Federal Reserve, especially as President Trump tried to oust Fed Governor Lisa Cook—an action that’s raising real concerns about Fed independence and the path of interest rates.

Bond yields dipped modestly; the 10-year Treasury yield eased to around 4.26% as investors factored in the likelihood of a more accommodative Fed later this year. Surprisingly, news around Fed shakeups didn’t spook the market much, though any hints of political interference are sure to stay on traders’ radar.

As for the “Mag 7” stocks, Nvidia stole the spotlight with another rally ahead of its earnings and AI headlines, while the rest of the big techs were mostly quiet except for bits of action in pharma and chips. The dollar slipped a little against major currencies, helping risk assets.

Gold picked up slightly, nearly touching record highs as the Fed’s independence came into question and global investors shifted defensively. Bitcoin was mostly flat, stuck as traders waited for the next big catalyst to materialize, but macro data had a solid showing.

It’s my view that the market’s managed to hold up well, but the mix of Fed uncertainty, trade talk, and upcoming Nvidia results means we’re still in headline-driven territory.

Will new data or political moves shake up this calm—stay tuned!

1. Moving the market

After last week’s big Fed-driven rally, traders started the week on a more cautious note. The major indexes slipped today, with the Dow falling about 0.7%, the S&P 500 down 0.4%, and the Nasdaq in the red by -0.2%.

I believe this minor retreat was mainly due to profit-taking and a bit of hesitation as investors wait for several key economic reports and Nvidia’s highly anticipated earnings coming up.

Surprisingly, the excitement around a potential September rate cut after Powell’s dovish Jackson Hole speech seems to be cooling off for now. Bond yields inched upward as some of that Fed-fueled euphoria faded and traders refocused on issues like tariffs and inflation’s impact on corporate profits. A surging dollar also weighed on risk assets.

For the “Mag 7” tech stocks, Nvidia led the charge today with a nearly 2% gain, while other names like Microsoft, Alphabet, and Tesla posted mixed results, reflecting persistent questions about valuations and the AI boom’s staying power. Financials and materials were laggards, while small caps dipped after Friday’s surge.

Gold continued to drift sideways, holding steady as investors seemed content to wait for clearer signals from the Fed, while bitcoin slipped, lacking any major catalysts to spark a move.

It’s my view that today’s pullback is just a pause after Friday’s celebration. The market is still driven by rate cut hopes and the performance of mega cap tech, but with volatility likely this week as earnings and inflation data roll in.

So, the question is: Will Nvidia’s results, and economic data, reignite the rally, or could we see more sideways action until the Fed’s next move?