Ep45: Nasdaq at the Summit, Dow Pulls Back & Rate Cut Hopes Rising — September 12th, 2025

Markets ended the week on a mixed note as the Nasdaq closed at another record high of 22,141.10, while the S&P 500 slipped slightly to 6,584.29 and the Dow fell 0.6% to 45,834.22. The Russell 2000 lost about 1%, underscoring divergence between large-cap tech strength and small-cap weakness. Sector highlights were vivid: Warner Bros. Discovery surged 16.7% on renewed takeover speculation, Paramount Skydance rose 7.6%, and Tesla gained 7.4% on product optimism. Meanwhile, Micron jumped 4.4% on an upgrade, but Arista Networks dropped 9%, Oracle fell 5.1%, and Moderna and Pfizer retreated on vaccine concerns. Overseas, Asian shares hit record highs on U.S. rate-cut hopes, while European markets edged higher with steady ECB policy. In macro flows, gold hovered near records, oil softened, and Treasury yields steadied after dipping earlier in the week. Bitcoin remained stable, echoing the market’s cautious yet resilient tone. This episode unpacks the week’s close, connecting the highs, the dips, and the undercurrents shaping investor sentiment heading into the Fed’s next decision.