Weekly Market Recap: October 20-26, 2025
Markets rise as inflation eases, with stocks moving higher last week thanks to steady economic data and stronger earnings. The overall tone remained positive, with most major indices extending their October gains.
Equity Markets
Stocks advanced across regions:
- Dow Jones: +2.2% (YTD +11.0%)
- S&P 500: +1.9% (YTD +15.5%)
- NASDAQ: +2.3% (YTD +20.2%)
- MSCI EAFE: +1.0% (YTD +23.9%)
- 10-year US Treasury yield: steady at 3.99%
- Oil: +7.5% to $61.44
Energy and cyclical sectors led gains as oil prices rebounded from a six-week decline. Stronger corporate earnings and stable yields helped maintain risk appetite through the week.
Macroeconomics
Economic data remained broadly positive:
- United States: Core CPI rose 0.2% month-on-month and 3.0% year-on-year, showing continued progress toward lower inflation.
- China: Q3 GDP grew 4.8%, supported by solid industrial output and retail sales.
- United Kingdom: Inflation stayed at 3.8%, while retail sales rose 0.5%.
- Canada: Inflation came in slightly higher at 2.4%, still within a manageable range.
- Japan: CPI increased 2.9%, keeping Bank of Japan policy expectations unchanged.
Overall, the data reinforced the view that global growth is holding steady while inflation continues to ease gradually.
Crypto Markets
Crypto assets moved higher alongside traditional markets:
- Bitcoin (BTCUSD): +5.4% to $114,500
- Ethereum (ETHUSD): +4.4% to $4,158
Renewed inflows from both institutional and retail traders suggested improving sentiment after a quiet start to the month.
Global Overview
Across regions, Europe showed mixed signals, manufacturing stayed weak, but services continued to stabilize. In Asia, China’s industrial rebound lifted both regional equities and commodities. Meanwhile, in the US, strong earnings from large-cap companies helped the NASDAQ outperform.
Conclusion
Markets ended the week on a constructive note. Inflation continued to ease, growth stayed resilient and central banks maintained a patient tone. Together, these factors supported confidence across global markets as October comes to a close.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice.
