Weekly Market Recap (September 22–26, 2025)
Stocks slipped as investors faded last week’s “rate-cut rally.” Energy ripped higher on firmer crude, while Communication Services and Healthcare lagged. Tech was mostly flat, with weakness in select AI networking names.
Index Performance (Weekly)
| Index | Weekly Change |
|---|---|
| S&P 500 | −0.75% |
| Nasdaq | −1.34% |
| Dow Jones | −0.29% |
Sector Snapshot (1-Week)
AI Picks Performance
| Stock | Weekly Return | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| UnitedHealth (UNH) | +0.81% | Managed care stabilized; modest rebound vs. sector |
| Newmont (NEM) | +1.83% | Gold bid benefited miners amid risk hedging |
| Arista Networks (ANET) | −1.99% | AI networking cooled after strong YTD run |
The Score — What Defined the Week
- Follow-through fade: After last week’s optimism on future cuts, positioning unwound; mega-cap tech softened.
- Energy leadership: Crude strength and tight supply narrative powered Energy to a near +4% week.
- Defensives mixed: Utilities caught a bid, but Healthcare and Staples drifted lower.
- Rates & credit: Yields were broadly steady; credit tone constructive with issuance continuing.
- Breadth: Losers outnumbered gainers; cyclicals underperformed, led by Comm-Services.
Outlook
- Macro: Watch inflation prints and payrolls for confirmation of the easing path.
- Leadership: Can Energy strength persist if crude consolidates? Look for rotation into value/financials if yields lift.
- Earnings setup: Guidance on tariffs, labor, and AI capex remains in focus into October.
Key Takeaway
A consolidation week: indexes dipped, Energy led decisively, and growth pockets cooled. The next leg hinges on data confirming the Fed’s glide path and early Q3 guidance.
Week ended September 26, 2025.
