14. Weekly Market Recap: Key Movements & Insights

🎯 'Buy the Dip' Brigade Gets Crushed: Is This the Reality Check Markets Needed?

S&P 500 Retreats Amid Inflation Concerns and Fed's Cautious Stance

In a week marked by a pullback from the previous week's exuberant rally, the S&P 500 cooled off, reflecting investor caution amid new economic data and Federal Reserve signals. The index fell over 2%, reversing some of the 4.6% gains it enjoyed on post-election optimism. This decline comes as inflation data released mid-week aligned with expectations, and Fed Chair Powell indicated a pause in interest rate cuts, dampening market enthusiasm.

The stock market's retreat was led by sectors such as non-energy minerals, process industries, and health technology, which lagged.

In contrast, consumer durables, technology services, and retail trade sectors showed resilience, buoying investor sentiment. The crypto market, however, continued its upward trajectory, with Bitcoin gaining an additional 3% this week, setting new all-time highs following a remarkable 17% surge the previous week.

Gold prices declined for the second consecut…