US stock markets ended the week on a mixed note as investors weighed strong economic data against persistent inflation concerns. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed at 42,800, the S&P 500 at 5,890, and the tech-heavy NASDAQ Composite at 18,650.
Weekly Market Recap
Dow Jones Industrial Average
The Dow gained 1.2% for the week, led by strength in financial and healthcare stocks. JPMorgan Chase surged 4.5% after raising its full-year earnings guidance, while UnitedHealth Group added 3.8% on strong Medicare enrollment data.
S&P 500
The broad market index rose 0.9%, with 8 out of 11 sectors ending in the green. Energy was the week’s top performer (+2.8%), while utilities lagged (-0.5%) as bond yields moved higher.
NASDAQ Composite
Tech stocks were mixed, with the NASDAQ gaining just 0.4%. The “Magnificent Seven” saw divergent performance — Nvidia surged 6% on AI chip demand optimism, while Apple declined 2% on concerns about China sales.
Key Economic Data Points
- US GDP Growth: Q4 2025 GDP was revised up to 3.1%, beating estimates of 2.8%
- Jobs Report: Non-farm payrolls added 215,000 jobs in February, slightly above expectations
- Inflation (PCE): Core PCE inflation came in at 2.6% YoY, still above the Fed’s 2% target
- Consumer Confidence: Conference Board index rose to 108.5, the highest in six months
Global Market Snapshot
| Index | Level | Weekly Change |
|---|---|---|
| Dow Jones (US) | 42,800 | +1.2% |
| NASDAQ (US) | 18,650 | +0.4% |
| FTSE 100 (UK) | 8,450 | +0.8% |
| DAX (Germany) | 18,200 | +1.5% |
| Nikkei 225 (Japan) | 40,100 | +2.1% |
| Shanghai Composite | 3,180 | -0.3% |
Week Ahead: What to Watch
- Fed Minutes (Wednesday): Markets will scrutinize language around rate cut timing
- US Jobs Report (Friday): March payrolls expected at 190,000
- Earnings Season Preview: Major banks kick off Q1 earnings with JPMorgan on April 11
- Oil Prices: OPEC+ monitoring committee meets to review production quotas
Impact on Indian Markets
Indian markets tend to follow global cues in the opening session. A positive close on Wall Street typically supports a gap-up opening on Dalal Street. However, domestic factors like FII flows, RBI policy stance, and quarterly earnings will drive the medium-term trend.
