31. Weekly Market Recap: Key Movements & Insights

🧸 Bear Market Fears: Stocks Stumble While Gold Shines

🔮 Powell's Pivotal Moment: Markets Retreat as Fed Meeting Nears

Stocks stumbled through a dismal week, with the S&P 500 plunging into correction territory amid persistent tariff fears. Monday delivered a devastating blow as the index fell nearly 3%, setting a grim tone for the days ahead. A brief Wednesday reprieve emerged when cooler-than-expected CPI data sparked a temporary rally, but the optimism quickly evaporated on Thursday as fresh tariff concerns resurfaced. Tech stocks bore the brunt of the selling pressure, with Apple shedding over 8% for the week. Friday's rally on news that a government shutdown would be averted provided some consolation but wasn't enough to prevent the S&P 500 from closing down more than 2% for the week.

Sector performance was dominated by defensive positioning, with energy minerals, utilities, and communications weathering the storm best. Meanwhile, consumer services, retail trade, and consumer durables suffered significant declines. Safe-haven assets at…