GenRise Wealth

After a volatile first half of the quarter, markets rebounded in late November, with the S&P 500 hitting record highs by year-end.

Equity markets extended their gains in the third quarter, as easing trade uncertainty and expectations for lower interest rates boosted investor sentiment.

After a volatile start, markets rallied to new highs in the second quarter as trade tensions eased, though uncertainty around tariffs remains in focus.

Markets began 2025 with optimism fueled by expectations of tax cuts and deregulation. However, sentiment shifted as the Trump administration pursued tariffs on key trading partners, raising concerns about growth and triggering a pullback in equities.

Equity markets rose during the final quarter of the year, fueled by expectations of pro-growth policies under the incoming Trump administration, along with ongoing hopes for lower interest rates and optimism for companies exposed to artificial intelligence.

The third quarter of the year saw heightened volatility for markets, driven by labor market data, profit growth linked to artificial intelligence, and anticipation for the Federal Reserve’s first rate cut since the early days of the pandemic.

Mega-cap technology companies continued to drive the equity market to record highs during the second quarter as enthusiasm for artificial intelligence and expectations for lower interest rates overshadowed concerns over softening economic data.

After ending 2023 on a high note, the market continued its advance in the first quarter against the backdrop of strong economic data and corporate earnings that surpassed expectations.