Stock Market Today: Live Updates
- Wall Street is bracing for Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's highly anticipated speech at the annual Jackson Hole economic symposium in Wyoming on Friday.
- stock futures edged higher Thursday night.The CME FedWatch tool indicates a 75% probability of a quarter-point interest rate cut at the September meeting.Though, this optimism is contingent...
- The market's sensitivity stems from a recent shift in investor behavior.
Powell’s Jackson Hole Speech Looms Over Uneasy Market
Table of Contents
Published August 22, 2025
Market Awaits Fed Chair’s Guidance
Wall Street is bracing for Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s highly anticipated speech at the annual Jackson Hole economic symposium in Wyoming on Friday. Investors are keenly focused on any signals regarding the future trajectory of monetary policy, particularly concerning interest rates. The speech comes at a sensitive time,as the market has experienced a five-day losing streak,and uncertainty prevails.
Futures Show Tentative Optimism
Despite the recent downturn, U.S. stock futures edged higher Thursday night.The CME FedWatch tool indicates a 75% probability of a quarter-point interest rate cut at the September meeting.Though, this optimism is contingent on Powell’s tone.
As of Thursday evening:
- Dow Jones Industrial Average futures rose 50 points,or 0.1%.
- S&P 500 futures added about 0.1%.
- Nasdaq 100 futures also gained approximately 0.1%.
The market’s sensitivity stems from a recent shift in investor behavior. The anticipation of lower interest rates has prompted a rotation out of large-cap technology stocks and into smaller companies and value-focused investments.
recent Market Performance
The week leading up to Powell’s speech has been challenging for Wall Street. The S&P 500 experienced its fifth consecutive day of declines on Thursday, falling 0.4%. The Nasdaq Composite slid 0.34%, and the Dow jones Industrial Average dropped 152.81 points, or 0.34%.
| Index | Thursday’s Change | Week-to-Date Change |
|---|---|---|
| S&P 500 | -0.4% | -1.2% |
| Nasdaq Composite | -0.34% | -2.4% |
| Dow Jones Industrial Average | -0.34% (152.81 points) | -0.4% |
| S&P 500 Equal Weight Index | Virtually Unchanged | Virtually Unchanged |
Interestingly,the S&P 500 Equal Weight Index has remained relatively stable this week, suggesting that the recent market weakness hasn’t impacted all sectors equally.
Company-Specific Movements
Thursday’s after-hours trading saw mixed results for individual companies. Despite exceeding Wall Street’s expectations in its fiscal fourth-quarter earnings, Intuit shares fell nearly 6%. Conversely, Zoom Communications experienced a 5% surge in its stock price after reporting second-quarter results that surpassed expectations.
Balancing Act for the Fed
Morgan Stanley Investment Management’s Jim Caron, speaking on CNBC’s “Closing Bell”, believes Powell will attempt to justify a potential series of interest rate cuts starting in September. Caron anticipates this communication will be supportive of the markets. However, Powell faces a delicate balancing act. He must articulate a clear path forward for monetary policy while addressing the Fed’s dual mandate of price stability and full employment.