U.S. Stocks Ease After Records, Weekly Gains Hold

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U.S. stock indexes pulled back on Friday after setting fresh records earlier in the week, though Wall Street still ended with overall gains across its major benchmarks. Technology shares led the decline, while select healthcare stocks advanced.

The S&P 500 slipped 0.3%, finishing just below the record it had set a day earlier. The Nasdaq composite also retreated, losing 0.4%, as technology names weighed on the index. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, however, edged slightly higher, adding 0.1% to extend its recent momentum.

Among individual movers, UnitedHealth Group rose after Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway disclosed it had purchased nearly 5 million shares of the insurer during the spring. Conversely, Applied Materials fell following renewed concerns about its business exposure in China.

Bond markets also saw movement, with U.S. Treasury yields climbing after a set of mixed economic reports suggested uneven momentum in the economy. Investors continue to weigh signs of resilience against ongoing inflationary pressures and global trade concerns.

Friday’s Market Results

• S&P 500: Down 18.74 points, or 0.3%, to 6,449.80
  
• Dow Jones Industrial Average: Up 34.86 points, or 0.1%, to 44,946.12
  
• Nasdaq Composite: Down 87.69 points, or 0.4%, to 21,622.98
  
• Russell 2000: Down 12.56 points, or 0.5%, to 2,686.52
  

Weekly Performance

Despite Friday’s dip, the major indexes all posted gains for the week. The S&P 500 advanced 0.9%, while the Dow climbed 1.7%. The Nasdaq gained 0.8%, and the small-cap Russell 2000 outpaced its peers with a 3.1% rise, signaling renewed investor interest in smaller companies.

Year-to-Date Totals

Looking at longer-term trends, the S&P 500 has risen 9.7% so far this year. The Dow has added 5.6%, while the Nasdaq is up 12%. The Russell 2000 has posted a smaller increase of 2.5% for 2025.

Analysts note that while Wall Street remains buoyed by optimism in corporate earnings and economic resilience, uncertainties tied to global markets and policy decisions may continue to drive volatility in the weeks ahead.