21. Weekly Market Recap: Key Movements & Insights
💡 Tech Tumbles, Energy Shines: A Volatile Start to 2025
Stocks Struggle Amid Year-End Volatility and Tech Weakness
In a holiday-shortened trading week, markets remained volatile. The S&P 500 dropped 0.9%, reflecting a lackluster end to an otherwise strong year. The index finished 2024 up 23.0%, but the absence of a Santa Claus rally and continued bearish sentiment highlighted investor caution heading into 2025.
The week began with a 1% drop on Monday, extending losses from the previous Friday. Thursday saw another sharp decline before a Friday rally helped recover some of the week's losses. Technology stocks were hit particularly hard, with Apple sliding 5.3% and Tesla tumbling nearly 8%. Energy minerals, industrial services, and communications sectors showed resilience, while consumer durables, technology services, and electronic technology lagged.
Treasury yields rose amid the volatility, with the 10-year yield briefly trading above 4.5%. Oil prices surged 4.7% for the week, buoyed by optimism surrounding China's economic recovery, while US Steel fell after the government blocked a proposed acquisition by Nippon Steel. Bitcoin gained 5.2%, continuing to dominate the cryptocurrency market, while gold edged up 0.6%, consolidating within its recent range.
Upcoming Key Events:
The first full trading week of 2025 will include a mix of economic data and earnings reports, offering investors fresh insights into the economy's state and corporate performance.
Monday, January 6:
Economic Data: Factory Orders
Tuesday, January 7:
Economic Data: International Trade in Goods and Services, Job Openings
Earnings: RPM International (RPM), Cal-Maine Foods (CALM)
Wednesday, January 8:
Economic Data: FOMC Minutes
Earnings: Jefferies (JEF), Albertsons (ACI)
Thursday, January 9:
Economic Data: Jobless Claims
Earnings: Infosys (INFY), Constellation Brands (STZ)
Friday, January 10:
Economic Data: Employment Report
Earnings: UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH), JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM)
Investors will closely monitor the FOMC minutes for insights into the Federal Reserve's policy outlook and the employment report for signs of labor market strength. Earnings from key companies like Infosys and Constellation Brands will also provide a glimpse into corporate sentiment as the new year begins.
Index Insights: How Major Benchmarks Performed Last Week
Price>MA10: 🔴
Price>MA20: 🟢
MA10>MA20: 🟢
Market Trend: 🔴 (When Price and Moving Averages are all green, also the Market Trend will be green and positive)
Trend Signal: 🔴
Price>MA10: 🟢
Price>MA20: 🔴
MA10>MA20: 🔴
Market Trend: 🔴
Trend Signal: 🔴
Price>MA10: 🟢
Price>MA20: 🔴
MA10>MA20: 🔴
Market Trend: 🔴
Trend Signal: 🔴
Financial Sector Performance: Winners and Losers from Last Week
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📊 Weekly Market Sector Snapshot: Leaders & Laggards
This week saw a mixed performance across sectors, with Energy leading the charge while Consumer Cyclical lagged significantly. Here's a breakdown of the week's sector performance:
🛢️ Energy (+3.65%)
Energy dominated the week with the strongest performance, driven by gains in oil and gas-related industries.
Sector leader: Oil & Gas Midstream
⚡ Utilities (+1.02%)
Utilities posted solid gains, ranking second this week as investors sought stability.
Sector leader: Independent Power Producers
🏢 Real Estate (-0.49%)
Real Estate saw a slight decline, with mixed performance across sub-industries.
Sector leader: REIT - Residential
🏥 Healthcare (-0.55%)
Healthcare experienced modest losses, struggling to maintain momentum.
Sector leader: Medical Distribution
🏦 Financial Services (-0.89%)
Financials posted a decline, reflecting broader market uncertainty.
Sector leader: Capital Markets
🏭 Industrials (-1.05%)
Industrials faced headwinds, with losses across key sub-industries.
Sector leader: Airlines
⭐ Communication Services (-1.23%)
Communication Services struggled this week, posting a notable decline.
Sector leader: Pay TV
🏗️ Basic Materials (-1.64%)
Basic Materials underperformed, weighed down by weakness in metals and mining.
Sector leader: Agricultural Inputs
💻 Technology (-1.67%)
Technology lagged, with losses in software and hardware sub-industries.
Sector leader: Software - Application
🛡️ Consumer Defensive (-1.92%)
Consumer Defensive struggled to maintain investor interest, posting significant losses.
Sector leader: Tobacco
📱 Consumer Cyclical (-2.93%)
Consumer Cyclical was the worst-performing sector this week, dragged down by weakness in retail and automotive industries.
Sector leader: Auto Manufacturers
📉 Summary:
Energy (+3.65%) and Utilities (+1.02%) were the standout performers this week, while Consumer Cyclical (-2.93%) and Consumer Defensive (-1.92%) lagged. The broader market reflected a cautious tone, with most sectors posting losses.
🌟 Market Pulse: Utilities and Oil Dominate Weekly Gains
⚡ Utilities - Independent Power Producers (+9.07%)
Independent power producers lead the market this week with an impressive 9.07% gain, driven by strong demand for renewable and alternative energy sources.
⛽ Oil & Gas Drilling (+8.86%)
Oil and gas drilling surged, reflecting robust activity in exploration and production as energy markets remain resilient.
🛢️ Oil & Gas E&P (+5.45%)
Exploration and production companies posted strong gains, benefiting from higher energy prices and increased global demand.
🌱 Utilities - Renewable (+5.11%)
Renewable utilities continued their upward momentum, highlighting the growing shift toward clean energy investments.
🛠️ Oil & Gas Equipment & Services (+3.94%)
Equipment and services companies in the oil and gas sector saw solid growth, reflecting increased activity in energy infrastructure.
🏭 Thermal Coal (+3.82%)
Thermal coal posted notable gains, driven by strong demand for energy production in key markets.
🛢️ Oil & Gas Refining & Marketing (+3.63%)
Refining and marketing companies benefited from higher margins, contributing to their strong performance this week.
⚛️ Uranium (+3.41%)
Uranium companies gained as nuclear energy continues to gain traction as a clean and reliable energy source.
🚛 Oil & Gas Midstream (+3.05%)
Midstream companies posted steady gains, supported by increased transportation and storage activity in the energy sector.
🌍 Oil & Gas Integrated (+3.02%)
Integrated oil and gas companies rounded out the top performers, reflecting their diversified operations and resilience in volatile markets.
🚀 Top Market Gainers: Battery Storage, Healthcare, and EV Tech Lead
NITO N2OFF Inc (NITO) +792.36%
⚡ Energy Storage Breakthrough: Partnered with Solterra Brand Services Italy through binding LOI to develop two massive 98MWp battery storage projects in Sicily, marking significant expansion into the European renewable energy market.
BDMD Baird Medical Investment Holdings Limited (BDMD) +261.06%
🏥Healthcare Innovation: Showcased cutting-edge endocrine care developments at the prestigious 2024 Southern Yue Forum, strengthening their position in specialized medical care.
FCUV Focus Universal Inc (FCUV) +244.03%
📈 Market Movement: Significant gain without specific news catalysts.
NXU Nxu Inc (NXU) +189.07%
🔋Strategic Merger: Announced transformative merger with Verde Bioresins, Inc., establishing Verde as a wholly owned subsidiary. Deal subject to stockholder approval and regulatory conditions.
MBOT Microbot Medical Inc (MBOT) +136.04%
🤖 Regulatory Milestone: Submitted FDA 510(k) for LIBERTY® Endovascular Robotic System, positioning for potential commercial approval and market entry in 2025.
🔻 Biggest Decliners: Clinical Setbacks and Strategic Exits
Neumora Therapeutics Inc (NMRA -80.84%)
❌ Clinical Setback: Major disappointment as depression treatment Navacaprant fails to meet endpoints in late-stage clinical trials.
Sangamo Therapeutics Inc (SGMO -47.66%)
💔 Partnership Loss: Stock plummeted following Pfizer's exit, raising concerns about the hemophilia gene therapy program viability.
Kazia Therapeutics (KZIA -39.79%)
⚠️ Regulatory Hurdle: FDA meeting results eliminate the possibility of an accelerated approval pathway for Paxalisib.
Nukkleus Inc (NUKK -38.00%)
📉Market Movement: Significant decline without specific news catalysts.
Traws Pharma (TRAW -35.77%)
💉Financing Impact: Despite securing $72.6M from healthcare investors for H5N1 bird flu treatment development, the stock declined on dilution concerns.
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