Ep30: Retail Retreat & Hawkish Hints: Markets Pause Ahead of Powell — August 21st, 2025

Markets slipped into a measured pullback on Thursday as investors braced for Fed Chair Powell’s upcoming speech at Jackson Hole. The Dow fell to 44,785, the S&P 500 eased to 6,370, and the Nasdaq dipped to 21,100, with retail and solar stocks under pressure. Meanwhile, Paramount Skydance soared on a major media rights deal, European shares held steady, and Treasury yields edged higher alongside the dollar. Commodities stayed quiet, while Bitcoin hovered in calm territory. Join us as we drift through the numbers and narratives shaping today’s markets, in the soft cadence of The Gentle Ledger.