Stuart Financial Group Blog

Thoughts and insight on the latest retirement topics.

Weekly Update: June 16, 2025 | Market Attention Turns to Trade and Oil

Stocks fell last week as an up-and-down mix of trade progress and anxiety, economic news, and geopolitical tensions netted out. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index slid 0.39 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index slipped 0.63 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 1.32 percent. The MSCI EAFE Index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets,…

Read More...

Weekly Update: June 9, 2025 | Trade Tension Down, Economic Data Up

Stocks rallied last week as investors responded to upbeat economic data and easing trade tensions. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index added 1.50 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index rose 2.18 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced 1.17 percent. The MSCI EAFE Index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, picked up 0.78 percent.1,2 S&P…

Read More...

Weekly Update: June 2, 2025 | Markets Cheer U.S./E.U. Trade Talks

Stocks advanced over the short trading week, bolstered by a possible trade deal with the European Union (EU) and an upbeat corporate report from a mega-cap tech company that creates semiconductors used in the creation of artificial intelligence. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index rose 1.87 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index popped 2.01 percent. The…

Read More...

Weekly Update: May 27, 2025 | Markets Cringe At Returned Tariff Talk

Stocks moved lower last week as fiscal fears and fresh tariff threats loomed over market sentiment. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index fell 2.61 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index dropped 2.47 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slid 2.47 percent. The MSCI EAFE Index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, advanced 1.14 percent.1,2 Stocks…

Read More...

Weekly Update: May 19, 2025 | U.S./China Tariff Truce Tames Markets

Stocks roared higher last week, powered by upbeat trade news and tame inflation reports. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index rose 5.27 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index spiked 7.15 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 3.41 percent. The MSCI EAFE Index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, increased 0.80 percent.1,2 S&P, Dow Erase YTD…

Read More...

Weekly Update: May 12, 2025 | Fed Talk Calms Volatility for the Week

Stocks were mixed last week as volatility dropped despite ongoing trade concerns and the Federal Reserve’s update on short-term rates. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.16 percent, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index lost 0.47 percent. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index slipped 0.27 percent. The MSCI EAFE Index, which tracks developed overseas stock…

Read More...

Weekly Update: May 5, 2025 | Positive Indicators Lift Stocks into May

Stocks pushed higher last week as investors cheered the White House’s constructive comments on trade, upbeat Q1 corporate reports, and an encouraging jobs report.  The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index gained 2.92 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index rose 3.42 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 3.00 percent. The MSCI EAFE Index, which tracks developed…

Read More...

Weekly Update: April 28, 2025 | Markets React to Positive Trade Talk

Stocks pushed higher last week, spurred by the White House’s reassuring comments that progress was being made with trade talks. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index gained 4.59 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index picked up 6.73 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lagged, adding 2.48 percent. The MSCI EAFE Index, which tracks developed overseas stock…

Read More...

Weekly Update: April 21, 2025 | Market Slips as Q1 Reports Arrive

U.S. stocks slipped over the shortened trading week as Q1 corporate reports started to roll in.  The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index dropped 1.50 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index fell 2.62 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 2.66 percent. The MSCI EAFE Index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, added 4.19 percent.1,2 U.S. Stocks…

Read More...

Weekly Update: April 14, 2025 | Rally Caps Volatile Week

Stocks ended the week with a strong gain as traders continued to focus on tariff talks while appearing to overlook upbeat news on inflation. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index rose 5.70 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index gained 7.29 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average picked up 4.95 percent. The MSCI EAFE Index, which…

Read More...

Weekly Update: April 7, 2025 | Markets React to White House Tariffs

Stocks fell broadly last week as domestic and foreign markets reacted to the White House’s tariffs. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index declined 9.08 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index fell 10.02 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 7.86 percent. The MSCI EAFE Index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, lost 7.39 percent.1,2 Under Pressure…

Read More...

Weekly Update: March 31, 2025 | Investors React to Tariff News

Stocks moved lower last week as investors swung from exuberance to disappointment on news over tariffs and inflation. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index fell 1.53 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index retreated 2.59 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slid 0.96 percent. The MSCI EAFE Index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, declined 1.29…

Read More...