20 August 2025,05:53
Daily Market Analysis
20 August 2025, 05:53
Key Takeaways:
*Nasdaq slumped over 300 points as rate-sensitive tech stocks bore the brunt of selling.
*Sticky inflation and strong wage growth dampened hopes for a September rate cut.
*Investors eye FOMC minutes and Powell’s Jackson Hole speech for policy clues.
Market Summary:
U.S. equity markets closed lower in the previous session, led by a sharp sell-off in technology shares, as investors grew increasingly cautious regarding the Federal Reserve’s policy trajectory. The shift in sentiment comes ahead of a pivotal week featuring the release of the latest FOMC meeting minutes and the central bank’s annual Jackson Hole Economic Symposium, which commences on Thursday.
The Nasdaq Composite bore the brunt of the selling pressure, plunging more than 300 points, or approximately 1.3%, as market participants scaled back bets on a near-term pivot to rate cuts. The Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500 also finished flat, though their declines were more modest, reflecting a broader rotation out of growth-oriented sectors. The Nasdaq’s slump has now erased its recent gains, pulling the index more than 2% below its recent peak near the 24,000 level.
The recalibration of market expectations follows a series of robust economic data releases that suggest inflationary pressures remain persistent. Last week’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) and Producer Price Index (PPI) reports, which highlighted stronger-than-anticipated wage growth and sticky service-sector inflation, have effectively dashed hopes for a September rate cut. This has reinforced the narrative that the Federal Reserve will be compelled to maintain a restrictive policy stance for a prolonged period.
Technology stocks, whose valuations are particularly sensitive to higher interest rates due to their reliance on future earnings growth, have become the primary vehicle for expressing this hawkish repricing. The sector’s weakness signals a market bracing for the potential that borrowing costs will remain elevated.
All eyes are now fixed on the forthcoming release of the July FOMC meeting minutes, due later today. Market participants will scrutinize the transcript for any nuanced discussions among policymakers that could provide critical signals on the path for interest rates. The minutes will set the stage for the main event: a highly anticipated speech from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell at the Jackson Hole symposium on Friday. Investors will be parsing his remarks for any guidance on how the central bank is balancing the risks of persistent inflation against the potential for overtightening policy.
The Nasdaq Composite dropped more than 300 points in the last session, erasing nearly 3% from its recent peak near the 24,000 level. The move signals a potential bearish shift as the index’s earlier bullish structure shows signs of breaking down.
The benchmark is now approaching the 61.8% Fibonacci retracement level near 23,200, a critical support zone that could determine the near-term trajectory. A sustained rebound above this level would keep the index within its broader bullish trend, but a decisive break lower may open the door to deeper losses.
Momentum indicators point to increasing downside risk. The RSI has fallen sharply into oversold territory, while the MACD has crossed below the zero line, highlighting the formation of fresh bearish momentum that could add further pressure on the index.
Resistance level: 23,560.00, 23,820.00
Support level: 23,260.00, 23,000.00
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