Ep32: Post-Rally Pause: Calm Before Nvidia and Inflation Storms - August 25th, 2025

After Friday’s record-setting highs, Wall Street eased back into a quieter rhythm on Monday. The Dow Jones slipped 349 points to 45,282.47, the S&P 500 edged down to 6,439.32, and the Nasdaq held steady at 21,449.29. Small caps retreated as well, with the Russell 2000 down 1%, showing investors’ shift into pause mode ahead of a pivotal week.Sectors told a mixed story: Keurig Dr Pepper tumbled over 11% on news of its $18.4B acquisition of JDE Peet’s, while furniture makers like RH and Wayfair weakened on tariff concerns. Intel gained 2% on sustained government support, and Alphabet rose 1.2%, quietly leading tech peers.Overseas, Asia surged as Chinese blue chips touched highs not seen since 2022, buoyed by policy hopes. Europe, by contrast, tread cautiously, holding back ahead of Nvidia’s earnings and U.S. inflation data.In macro markets, the 10-year Treasury yield ticked up to 4.27%, oil steadied near $68 per barrel, and gold slipped slightly to $3,410. Crypto softened further, with Bitcoin falling 1.5% to around $109,500.We close with a look ahead: Nvidia’s results, U.S. PCE inflation data, and Fed policy guidance could shape the coming week’s path. A gentle, detailed walkthrough of a day when markets paused, breathed, and quietly prepared for what lies ahead.