August 2025 Evaluate and Outlook

Government abstract:

• Giant caps make new highs
• Main digital asset laws signed throughout “Crypto Week”
• Earnings season kicks off with a powerful begin
• U.S. Greenback rallies on growing commerce offers
• FOMC holds charges regular

July continued the sturdy run for shares seeing the S&P 500 up for the third month in a row, and the Nasdaq for the fourth. Apparently, the S&P 500 did not have any vital strikes of 1% in both course, which hasn’t occurred since July 2023. The VIX, a measure of market volatility, stayed comparatively calm, ending the month round 17. Massive tech shares have been the celebrities of the present, however different sectors like homebuilders, banks, auto suppliers, and oil majors additionally did effectively. On the flip aspect, sectors like logistics, leisure, and media did not carry out as strongly.

This month’s market rally pushed the S&P 500 and Nasdaq to new file highs, bouncing again from the post-Liberation Day selloff. The rally was fueled by easing tariffs and commerce tensions, a powerful begin to the earnings season, and a resilient macroeconomic backdrop. Optimistic developments within the AI sector, elevated deal exercise, and the passage of the Massive Lovely Invoice additionally helped increase market sentiment. Regardless of some considerations about rising rates of interest, the market remained optimistic, supported by resilient financial knowledge.

Commerce agreements performed a big function available in the market’s efficiency. The U.S. reached a number of commerce offers earlier than the August 1 deadline, together with agreements with the EU and Japan. Talks with China confirmed indicators of progress, with Treasury Secretary Bessent expressing optimism in regards to the negotiations. Nonetheless, commerce tensions with Canada remained elevated, and a Federal appeals courtroom heard arguments concerning the legality of tariffs. Traders centered extra on the decreased uncertainty round commerce coverage reasonably than particular tariff ranges, with AI momentum offsetting the tariff affect in sure sectors.

Financial knowledge for the month was combined. June payrolls exceeded expectations, and the unemployment price ticked all the way down to 4.1%. Nonetheless, job progress is predicted to sluggish in July. Preliminary jobless claims fell for six consecutive weeks earlier than a slight uptick, whereas persevering with claims remained excessive. CPI and PPI knowledge got here in cooler than anticipated, however housing knowledge was usually weak. The Fed’s July assembly featured hawkish takeaways, with no hints of a price reduce in September. Tensions between President Trump and Fed Chair Powell continued, including to market uncertainty.

Index efficiency for July:

Sector efficiency whole return for July:

Digital Belongings:

July kicked off with heightened anticipation forward of “Crypto Week” which passed off between July 14-18^th aiming to handle crucial crypto laws. The spotlight was the passage of the Guiding and Establishing Nationwide Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins Act (GENIUS Act), which obtained a decisive 308-122 vote within the Home on July 17 and was signed into regulation by President Trump on July 18. This landmark laws establishes the primary federal regulatory framework for cost stablecoins, introducing a two-tier licensing system. Stablecoin issuers with a market capitalization below $10 billion can get hold of state-level licenses, whereas bigger entities require federal licenses overseen by the Workplace of the Comptroller of the Forex (OCC). The regulation mandates that stablecoins be backed 100% by high-quality liquid belongings like U.S. {dollars} or Treasuries, with month-to-month reserve disclosures, alongside strict anti-money laundering (AML), know-your-customer (KYC), and sanctions compliance necessities. This transfer goals to bolster client safety and combine stablecoins into the regulated monetary system, a big step ahead for digital funds.

Alongside the GENIUS Act, the Digital Asset Market Readability (CLARITY Act) superior, passing the Home with a 294-134 vote on July 18. This invoice seeks to resolve jurisdictional disputes between the Securities and Change Fee (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Buying and selling Fee (CFTC), proposing a practical regulatory framework for digital belongings. It goals to make clear oversight duties and set clearer guidelines for market contributors, although it nonetheless awaits Senate consideration. Moreover, the Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act, handed narrowly by a 219-210 vote, prohibits the Federal Reserve from issuing a central financial institution digital forex (CBDC), reflecting considerations over privateness and authorities overreach. These payments collectively sign a shift towards regulatory readability and innovation, although their Senate journey stays unsure.

On the state degree, Texas made historical past by establishing the primary U.S. state-managed Bitcoin reserve, signed into regulation this month. The reserve, managed by the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts with steerage from a crypto funding advisory committee, restricts eligible belongings to these with a market cap exceeding $500 billion—at present solely Bitcoin—and permits progress by means of purchases, forks, airdrops, beneficial properties, and donations. This transfer positions Texas as a frontrunner in state-level crypto adoption, although Arizona’s Governor vetoed the same Bitcoin reserve invoice on July 1, highlighting divergent state approaches.

Wanting ahead, the Senate will play a crucial function in shaping these initiatives. The GENIUS Act, already Senate-approved, may attain the president’s desk earlier than the August recess if it passes with out main revisions. The CLARITY Act and Anti-CBDC Act face extra scrutiny, with potential debates extending into September, particularly given partisan divides on CBDC points. The Working Group’s July 22 report might affect these discussions, doubtlessly proposing a “nationwide digital asset stockpile” or further legislative measures. Internationally, the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Belongings (MiCA) regulation continues its phased implementation, with ongoing Stage 2 and three textual content growth, whereas the UK advances its cryptoasset regime, with remaining guidelines anticipated in 2026.

Earnings commentary:

With ~60% of S&P 500 corporations reporting earnings for Q2’25, the outcomes have been stable, however the outlook stays unsure. To date this reporting cycle, just below 83% of corporations are reporting EPS above estimates, which is above each the 5 and 10-year averages of 78% and 75% respectively. The mixture earnings shock is +7.3% at present, which is under the 5-year common of 9.1%, however above the 10-year common of 6.9%. Optimistic EPS surprises are being led by the Power sector which has printed +12.7% above estimates, adopted by Financials (10.8%) and Communications (9.0%). Solely Industrials has had a adverse EPS shock which got here in 2.4% under estimates.

On progress entrance, extra sectors are within the pink, however the general earnings progress is effectively above latest traits. Presently the common earnings progress price stands at 9.5%. There are at present six sectors reporting EPS progress, led by Expertise (21.6%), Financials (20.3%), and Communications (18.8%), whereas Client Discretionary (-19.5%), and Well being Care (-8.1%) are the clear laggards.

Gross sales surprises and progress are additionally trending effectively, with 9 sectors reporting optimistic gross sales progress, with solely Power (-5.8%) and Client Discretionary (-0.3%) reporting contractions. The typical gross sales progress determine for the quarter at present sits at 6.6%. Gross sales surprises for the primary quarter are led by Power corporations with a median beat of 6.9%, with Supplies lagging with a 0.9% common shock. The general upside gross sales shock being reported thus far is 2.6%.

Gross sales and earnings outcomes by S&P sector:

2-day value response following earnings releases:

Incomes Name Mentions:

Tariffs

Generative AI

Fed price reduce odds:

Bitcoin:

DXY:

GDP rose in Q2 led by internet exports:

Commerce Offers:

Wanting forward:

August will deliver the conclusion of Q2’25 earnings season, in addition to additional financial knowledge together with jobs, inflation and GDP. Whereas the Federal Reserve is not going to meet once more till mid September, the August knowledge will probably be key drivers of their potential coverage adjustments. During the last 15 years, the month of August has seen a median return of -0.45%, with 8 years within the pink and seven within the inexperienced. Solely September noticed worse returns throughout that time-frame with a median return of -0.94%.

Financial Calendar:

---

The knowledge contained herein is offered for informational and academic functions solely, and nothing contained herein needs to be construed as funding recommendation, both on behalf of a specific safety or an general funding technique. All info contained herein is obtained by Nasdaq from sources believed by Nasdaq to be correct and dependable. Nonetheless, all info is offered “as is” with out guarantee of any type. ADVICE FROM A SECURITIES PROFESSIONAL IS STRONGLY ADVISED.