Ep36: Ahead of the Weekend Wave: Tech Lulls and Inflation Echoes — August 29th, 2025

As the final Friday of August drew to a close, markets eased into the weekend with a softer tone. The Dow Jones slipped to 45,544.88, down 92 points, while the S&P 500 settled at 6,460.26 and the Nasdaq retreated to 21,455.55, its third decline in four sessions. Technology names bore the brunt, with Nvidia extending its losing streak, Dell sliding on server guidance, and Marvell tumbling nearly 18%. Yet, glimmers of strength appeared in other corners: Affirm surged 13%, Ambarella jumped 20%, and Alibaba rose 12%, buoyed by strong results. Defensive plays such as Berkshire Hathaway, Coca-Cola, and UnitedHealth steadied the landscape. Abroad, Asian markets traded cautiously, balancing chip optimism with pressure in Chinese tech, while European indices drifted slightly lower into the month’s end. Commodities held firm, with Brent crude near $66–68 and gold steady above $3,440, while 10-year Treasury yields eased toward 4.2% after softer inflation signals. In digital assets, Bitcoin cooled modestly around $112,000, a quiet pause after weeks of heightened activity. Tonight’s episode ties these threads together—sector rotations, global whispers, bond market steadiness, and crypto’s lull—into a calm, ASMR-style reflection on how the month of August leaves its final imprint.