U.S. Stocks Edge Lower Amid Retail Earnings and Fed Symposium Anticipation

On Monday, August 18, 2025, U.S. stock markets saw modest declines as investors prepared for upcoming earnings reports from major retailers and the Federal Reserve's annual Jackson Hole symposium. The Dow Jones Industrial Average edged up by 17.0 points (0.04%) to open at 44,963.17. In contrast, the S&P 500 dipped by 4.8 points (0.07%) to 6,445.02, and the Nasdaq Composite slipped 6.2 points (0.03%) to begin at 21,616.82.

Investors are closely monitoring earnings reports from major retailers, including Home Depot, Lowe's, Walmart, Target, and TJX Companies, scheduled for release this week. These reports are expected to provide insights into consumer spending trends and the potential impact of tariffs on the retail sector.

Additionally, market participants are awaiting Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's speech at the Jackson Hole Economic Policy Symposium, set to begin on August 21. Powell is anticipated to address the U.S. economic outlook and potential policy moves, with investors seeking clarity on the likelihood of a rate cut at the Fed's September meeting.

In the technology sector, shares of major companies were mostly lower on Monday. Meta Platforms declined by 1.87%, Microsoft fell by 0.81%, Apple decreased by 0.08%, Alphabet dropped by 0.33%, and Broadcom slipped by 0.46%. Conversely, Tesla advanced by 1.33%, and Nvidia inched higher by 0.99%.

Pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk saw its shares rise by 2.71% following the FDA's approval of its weight-loss drug, Wegovy, for the treatment of a serious liver disease.

In the cryptocurrency market, Bitcoin was trading at $116,339, down 1.1% from the previous close, reflecting continued volatility in digital assets.

The U.S. dollar index rose by 0.3% to 98.12, recovering from a three-week low, while the yield on the 10-year Treasury note increased slightly to 4.34%. West Texas Intermediate crude oil futures rose by 1% to $63.40 per barrel, rebounding from recent lows, and gold futures edged down by 0.1% to approximately $3,380 an ounce.