Weekly Market Update

Markets Rebound but Uncertainty Lingers

March 18, 2025

It was a volatile week for markets as investors grappled with uncertainty around the U.S.-China trade tensions, potential rate cuts by central banks, and geopolitical developments.

U.S. stocks finished the week higher despite some choppy trading. The Nasdaq and S&P 500 climbed by over 2% on Friday and are now level for the past week. However, the Nasdaq remains down almost 10% year-to-date. 

The U.S. dollar index fell 0.1% for the week and is now down 4.4% year-to-date. The Australian dollar finished up 0.06% on Friday at 63.2 U.S. cents.

Bond yields pushed slightly higher, with the 10-year U.S. Treasury yield ending the week at 4.31%. Oil prices rebounded, with Brent crude gaining 1% Friday to $70.60 per barrel. Gold hit a record high above $3,000 per troy ounce.

Economic data painted a mixed picture. U.S. CPI inflation eased in February, but producer prices and inflation expectations remain elevated, complicating the Fed's rate decision. Retails sales disappointed, rising just 0.2% vs. 0.7% expected. The OECD cut its global growth forecasts modestly due to the impact of tariffs.

In China, officials announced plans to bolster household consumption to reduce reliance on exports amid trade tensions with the U.S. This helped China's stock market outperform.

Overall, markets remain on edge as they await further developments on the trade front, signals from central banks, and the outcome of ceasefire talks between the U.S. and Russia over Ukraine. The lack of major negative news allowed stocks to rebound late in the week, but uncertainty is likely to persist.

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