U.S. stocks managed to break a four-week losing streak with modest gains for the week of March 17–21, 2025. The market seesawed through volatile trading sessions, dominated by a mid-week Federal Reserve meeting and ongoing jitters over trade tariffs. A late rebound on Friday helped all three major indices inch into positive territory for the week.
Heavy trading volume from a quarterly options expiration (a “quadruple witching” event) added to the turbulence on Friday, but stocks bounced back from early losses to finish slightly up by the closing bell. In the end, investors saw a small but meaningful weekly gain, offering a respite after a month of declines.
Weekly Index Performance
All three major U.S. stock indexes ended the week in the green, though the advances were small. The Dow led with the biggest gain, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite also eked out positive returns:
| Index (Mar 17–21) | Weekly Change |
|---|---|
| Dow Jones Industrial Average | +1.2% |
| S&P 500 | +0.5% |
| Nasdaq Composite | +0.2% |
Each index snapped a multi-week losing streak (four weeks of declines for the S&P 500 and Nasdaq, and two weeks for the Dow)
Economic & Policy Highlights
Federal Reserve Holds Steady
As expected, the Fed left interest rates unchanged at its March 19 meeting. Policymakers noted that uncertainty about the economic outlook has increased, even though current growth remains “solid”. The Fed’s updated forecasts pointed to slightly slower growth and higher inflation ahead, and officials still anticipate they may cut rates later in the year. The Fed’s cautious-but-steady stance reassured investors and helped spark a mid-week rally in stocks.
Trade Tariff Jitters
Trade tensions remained a key theme. Early in the week, the European Union warned it will retaliate against new U.S. tariffs expected to take effect in April. However, on Friday President Trump suggested there could be some “flexibility” in how those tariffs are implemented, which eased fears somewhat. This hint of a softer stance on tariffs helped the market rebound from losses late in the week.
Retail Sales Soft but Not Shocking
A closely watched economic report on consumer spending came out Monday. February retail sales rose just +0.2%, which was weaker than the +0.6% growth economists had forecast. Still, investors were relieved that the figure wasn’t as bad as some had feared – excluding autos, sales met expectations – so this underwhelming data did not derail the market’s early-week gains. Other data (like housing starts and jobless claims) had little market impact as attention stayed on the Fed and tariffs.
Top Gainers (Major Stocks)
- Boeing (BA) – The aerospace giant’s stock soared ~7% this week. Boeing led the Dow after the company announced a deal to sell more of its 787 Dreamliner planes to Japan Airlines, boosting confidence in its recovery. Positive comments from Boeing’s finance chief about improved cash flow also cheered investors.
- Tesla (TSLA) – Shares of Tesla rallied about 5% during the week, leading a rebound among beaten-down tech names. The electric car maker enjoyed a surge in buying interest mid-week as investors snapped up mega-cap tech stocks at bargain prices. (Even with the week’s gain, Tesla’s stock has a lot of ground to recover after steep losses in prior weeks.)
Top Losers (Major Stocks)
- Micron (MU) – The semiconductor company’s stock plunged ~8% for the week, making it one of the S&P 500’s worst performers. This drop came despite Micron reporting better-than-expected quarterly results – a sign that broader market caution toward tech overshadowed its good news. Investors remain anxious about the chip industry’s outlook, which hurt Micron’s share price even after its strong earnings report.
- FedEx (FDX) – FedEx shares fell 6.4% this week after the shipping giant’s quarterly earnings disappointed Wall Street. The company posted weaker profit margins and cut its outlook for the coming months, citing a slowdown in global shipping demand. The dour forecast surprised investors and drove FedEx stock sharply lower.
- Nike (NKE) – The athletic apparel leader saw its stock slide about 5.5% over the week. Nike’s earnings report, released Thursday, showed solid revenue but a cautious outlook: the company warned that its ongoing turnaround efforts and new U.S. import tariffs could dent sales in the upcoming quarter. That warning rattled investors, and Nike’s share price stumbled to one of the worst performances among big-name stocks this week.
Overall, the week delivered a small victory for U.S. markets – stocks managed to rise after a long losing stretch. Investors balanced relief over a patient Fed and hopeful corporate developments against lingering worries about tariffs and economic growth. The result was a tenuous but welcome climb in the major indexes, leaving traders cautiously optimistic heading into the next week’s data and earnings announcements.
