Overview

• The S&P 500 ended Friday little changed but gained 1.5% for the week, with the broader Russell 1000 also nearing record highs.
• Retail sales fell 0.9% in January, below expectations, but economists attribute the decline to weather disruptions and post-holiday spending pauses.
• Communication services and materials sectors led market gains in 2025, while former tech leaders like Tesla and Microsoft underperformed.
• Intel surged 25% this week following speculation about potential partnerships and U.S. government support for domestic chip manufacturing.
• Corporate earnings remain robust, with 75% of S&P 500 companies beating fourth-quarter estimates by an average of 6.3%.