U.S. stock markets experienced a mixed session on Friday, August 15, 2025, as investors navigated a landscape of hotter-than-expected inflation data, robust corporate earnings, and strategic corporate maneuvers. While the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) continued its upward trajectory, hitting new intraday highs, the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (IXIC) pulled back, and the S&P 500 (SPX) managed a marginal gain to close at another record high. The session reflected a cautious optimism, with market participants weighing strong company performances against persistent inflationary pressures and looming policy decisions.
Major Market Indexes Performance
The S&P 500 (SPX) demonstrated resilience, advancing slightly to close at 6,468.54, marking a new closing high for the index. This extends a recent streak of record closes for the broad-market index. Despite this, eight out of the 11 broad sectors within the S&P 500 ended in negative territory, with the Materials Select Sector SPDR (XLB), Industrials Select Sector SPDR (XLI), and Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR (XLP) each falling around 1% or more.
In contrast, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) showed strength, climbing approximately 0.3% and hitting fresh intraday highs, its first record high since December 2024. This surge was significantly propelled by gains in healthcare stocks. However, the index closed only slightly higher, indicating a degree of caution among investors.
The Nasdaq Composite (IXIC), heavily weighted towards technology stocks, faced profit-taking pressures and declined approximately 0.1% to 0.5%. This dip comes after the tech-heavy index had also seen a series of new highs recently. The mixed performance across the major indexes highlights the current market's nuanced reaction to economic indicators and sector-specific news.
Upcoming Market Events and Economic Data
Economic data released this week provided a mixed picture for the U.S. economy. The Department of Labor reported that the Producer Price Index (PPI) for July rose by a significant 0.9%, well above the consensus estimate of 0.2%. This marked the highest monthly increase in PPI since June 2022, with the year-over-year headline PPI rising 3.3% in July, its highest annual increase since February. This hotter-than-expected inflation data somewhat dampened market sentiment.
On the labor front, initial claims for unemployment decreased by 3,000 to 224,000 for the week ended August 9, coming in lower than the consensus estimate. Retail sales for July also showed a modest increase of 0.5%, meeting expectations. However, the University of Michigan's consumer sentiment index dropped to 58.6 from 61.7, reflecting growing inflation concerns among consumers.
Looking ahead, next week will bring several important economic releases that could influence market direction. Investors will be closely watching the August flash PMI data, which will offer early insights into economic conditions across major developed economies. Additionally, inflation data is due from the UK, Eurozone, Japan, and Canada. In the U.S., upcoming events include the release of Fed minutes and existing home sales data. The Atlanta Fed's GDPNow model currently estimates real GDP growth for the third quarter of 2025 at 2.5% as of August 15, unchanged from August 7.
Major Stock News and Corporate Announcements
Several major companies made headlines today with significant stock price movements and corporate announcements:
UnitedHealth (UNH) was a standout performer, with its shares surging more than 11% to 14% following news that Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) had taken a substantial stake in the struggling insurer. This strategic investment signaled renewed investor confidence in the healthcare giant.
Apple (AAPL) continued its upward trend, fueled by strong earnings and strategic initiatives. The company posted record June-quarter revenue of $94 billion, a 10% year-over-year increase, driven by strong demand for its new iPhone 16 lineup and Mac computers. Apple's commitment to expanding its U.S. manufacturing footprint with an additional $100 billion investment, alongside potential AI collaborations, is also contributing to investor optimism.
In other significant corporate news:
- Deere & Co. (DE) shares tumbled 6.8% after the company reduced its fiscal 2025 profit guidance.
- DLocal Limited (DLO) saw its shares soar 31.3% after reporting second-quarter 2025 adjusted earnings per share that surpassed analyst estimates.
- Amcor plc (AMCR) experienced a significant drop of 11.9% after posting fourth-quarter fiscal 2025 adjusted earnings per share that missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate.
- Cellebrite DI Ltd. (CLBT) jumped 9.3% after the company posted second-quarter 2025 adjusted earnings that beat expectations.
- Chipmakers faced some headwinds, with Applied Materials (AMAT) tumbling 14% on a downbeat forecast, and Nvidia (NVDA) losing 2%.
- Nu Holdings (NU) shares surged nearly 10% in pre-market trading after reporting mixed second-quarter 2025 results, where earnings per share met estimates but revenue slightly missed, despite strong customer growth.
- After Wednesday's close, Cisco Systems (CSCO) disclosed its fiscal fourth-quarter results, beating Wall Street expectations with earnings up 14% year-over-year and revenue rising 8%. Notably, its AI Infrastructure orders from webscale customers more than doubled their initial target, surpassing $2 billion in fiscal 2025.
- AMC Entertainment (AMC) released its second-quarter results after Monday's close, reporting breakeven earnings per share and a 35.7% year-over-year increase in revenue.
- Arista Networks (ANET) delivered strong second-quarter results, significantly raising its full-year 2025 outlook, driven by immense growth in artificial intelligence and cloud spending.
After-Hours Earnings Announcements
As the market closed at 4:00 PM ET, investors turned their attention to companies scheduled to release earnings after hours. While specific after-hours announcements for today, August 15, 2025, are still unfolding, several companies had reported earlier in the day or are slated for future releases. Tuniu (TOUR) reported its Q2 2025 earnings before market open today, with net revenues rising 15% year-over-year and the company achieving quarterly profitability on both GAAP and non-GAAP bases. Looking ahead, Li Auto Inc. (LI) announced it would report its unaudited financial results for the second quarter of 2025 before the U.S. market opens on Thursday, August 28, 2025.
Today's trading session underscored the ongoing tug-of-war between inflation concerns and strong corporate fundamentals. While some sectors and individual stocks demonstrated robust performance, the broader market remains sensitive to economic data and the Federal Reserve's potential policy responses. Investors will continue to monitor upcoming economic indicators and corporate earnings for further clarity on the market's direction.
Ed Liston is a senior contributing editor at TheStockMarketWatch.com. An active market watcher and investor, Ed guides an independent team of experienced analysts and writes for multiple stock trader publications.