📰 Weekly Market Recap (May 19–23, 2025)
Markets remained volatile this week as investors digested economic data, corporate developments, global trade news, and the ongoing rally in cryptocurrencies. Despite some concerns around housing and inflation, tech stocks continued to support the market’s resilience, while Bitcoin surged to a new all-time high.
Let’s break down the most important highlights from this week in markets, the economy, and crypto.
📊 U.S. Markets Weekly Performance
This week, U.S. stock indexes showed little directional movement, with major benchmarks closing near their opening levels.
- S&P 500 closed at 5,802, virtually unchanged from the start of the week. Despite intraday volatility, the index reflected a wait-and-see attitude from investors, largely driven by anticipation of next week’s economic data and Fed minutes.
- Nasdaq 100 ended the week at 20,891, also flat on the week. Tech stocks experienced minor swings, but overall sentiment remained cautious ahead of Nvidia’s earnings and ongoing inflation concerns.
- Dow Jones Industrial Average saw a modest decline, finishing at 41,573, as industrials and consumer staples underperformed slightly.
This flat performance across the board reflects investor indecision amid a mix of bullish and bearish signals, with many choosing to remain on the sidelines.
🌍 🇺🇸 Economic Data Highlights
🏠 Existing Home Sales (April 2025)
Sales of existing homes in the U.S. declined 0.5% in April to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.00 million units. Compared to April 2024, sales are down 2.0%. However, the median home price reached a record high of $414,000, marking the 22nd consecutive month of year-over-year price increases.
- Inventory jumped 9.0% month-over-month to 1.45 million units, the highest level in nearly five years.
- This represents 4.4 months of supply, giving buyers more negotiating power in certain regions.
- Regional performance varied:
- Sales fell in the Northeast and West
- Rose in the Midwest
- Stayed flat in the South
- Price trends were mixed, with increases in the Northeast and Midwest, and slight declines in the South and West.
Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist of the National Association of REALTORS®, commented that home sales remain at roughly 75% of pre-pandemic levels, despite strong job creation. He emphasized that lower mortgage rates could unlock pent-up demand.
📄 Federal Reserve Minutes & Upcoming Meeting
The minutes from the May 6–7 FOMC meeting will be released on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, at 2:00 PM ET. These minutes will offer a deeper look into the Fed’s discussions around inflation, employment, and rate policy.
Looking ahead, the next FOMC meeting is scheduled for June 17–18, 2025, and will include updated economic projections. Markets are watching closely for any hints of potential rate cuts in the second half of the year.
🌐 Global & Policy Developments
🇮🇳 U.S.–India Trade Agreement on the Horizon
A new trade agreement between the United States and India could be announced within the next 7 to 10 days, according to officials involved in the negotiations. The deal is expected to focus on technology exchange, semiconductor supply chains, and lowering tariffs on key goods.
🇺🇸 Trump Proposes 50% Tariff on European Union Imports
President Donald Trump, currently serving his second term, has proposed a 50% tariff on all European Union imports starting June 1, 2025. This aggressive trade stance is expected to reignite tensions with EU leaders and could spark retaliatory measures.
Markets reacted cautiously to the announcement. While some sectors like domestic manufacturing welcomed the protectionist move, multinational corporations and investors fear rising trade barriers could disrupt global supply chains and increase inflationary pressures.
The White House stated the move aims to “level the playing field” and reduce the U.S. trade deficit with Europe, though economists warn it could backfire if met with similar tariffs from the EU.
🇺🇸 Texas Approves Bitcoin Reserve Bill (SB21)
Texas lawmakers officially passed SB21, a bill that allows the state to hold Bitcoin as a strategic reserve asset. This groundbreaking move positions Texas as a national leader in crypto innovation and signals growing institutional adoption of digital assets at the state level.
🏢 Corporate Earnings Highlights
💻 Nvidia Earnings Incoming
Nvidia (NVDA) will report its highly anticipated earnings on Tuesday, May 28, 2025. Investors are expecting another blowout quarter driven by demand for AI chips and data center growth. Nvidia’s performance could set the tone for the broader tech sector heading into June.
💰 Crypto Corner
₿ Bitcoin Hits All-Time High Above $111K
Bitcoin (BTC) broke through its previous records this week, hitting a new all-time high of over $111,000, fueled by:
- Continued institutional demand
- The post-halving supply squeeze
- Strong retail interest amid economic uncertainty
This milestone has helped Bitcoin surpass Amazon (AMZN) to become the fifth-largest asset in the world by market capitalization—an extraordinary achievement for a decentralized digital currency.
🇺🇸 U.S. States Embrace Crypto
Following Texas’ SB21 bill approval, other states such as Wyoming and Florida are rumored to be exploring similar legislation to hold Bitcoin in treasury reserves or develop crypto-friendly banking frameworks.
📌📝 Key Takeaways (May 19–23, 2025)
- 📊 Markets Stay Flat: The S&P 500 closed at 5,802, Nasdaq at 20,891, and the Dow at 41,573 — showing little change as investors await upcoming economic data and Fed minutes.
- 📉 U.S. Existing Home Sales Down: April sales fell 0.5% to an annualized rate of 4.00 million units, while the median price hit a record $414,000. Inventory rose to its highest level in nearly 5 years.
- 🇮🇳 U.S.–India Trade Deal Approaching: A major trade agreement could be announced within 7–10 days, potentially boosting bilateral economic ties.
- 🇪🇺 Trump Proposes 50% EU Tariff: President Trump is pushing for a 50% tariff on EU imports starting June 1, raising concerns over potential trade retaliation.
- 🏦 Fed Minutes Coming May 28: Markets are eyeing the upcoming FOMC minutes from the May 6–7 meeting for clues on future rate policy. The next Fed meeting is scheduled for June 17–18.
- 💰 Bitcoin Reaches New ATH: BTC hits a historic high, surpasses Amazon in market cap, and becomes the 5th largest asset globally.
👋 Thanks for Reading!
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