🌍 Global Markets Weekly Review

Period: April 14–18, 2025
Date of Report: April 20, 2025
Source Data Timestamp: April 17–18, 2025

🇺🇸 United States Markets

📈 S&P 500

• Level: 5,282.70
• Change: +0.52%
• Trend: Modest gains. The market showed resilience, supported by strength in financials and select consumer discretionary sectors. Investor sentiment remains cautiously optimistic ahead of the next Fed meeting.

📉 Nasdaq 100

• Level: 18,258.09
• Change: -0.28%
• Trend: Slight decline driven by a pullback in major tech and AI stocks, with some investors locking in profits after strong Q1 gains.

📉 Dow Jones Industrial Average

• Level: 39,142.23
• Change: -0.89%
• Trend: Noticeable weekly drop, affected by weakness in industrials and energy. Fears of slowing economic growth and mixed earnings weighed on investor confidence.

📈 Russell 2000

• Level: 1,880.62
• Change: +2.90%
• Trend: Strong rally in small-cap stocks, signaling a shift toward risk appetite and potential expectations of looser monetary policy ahead.

🇪🇺 European Markets

📈 Euro Stoxx 50

• Level: 4,935.34
• Change: +1.94%
• Trend: Solid performance driven by optimism over falling inflation in key Eurozone countries and positive corporate earnings.

📈 STOXX Europe 600

• Level: 506.42
• Change: +3.69%
• Trend: Impressive gains across sectors, especially in energy, banking, and consumer goods. Investors are pricing in a potential ECB rate cut in the coming months.

📈 FTSE 100 (UK)

• Level: 8,275.66
• Change: +4.58%
• Trend: One of the strongest performers this week. The rally was fueled by a strong British pound, robust employment figures, and gains in multinational firms benefiting from global exposure.

🇨🇭 Switzerland

📈 Swiss Market Index (SMI)

• Level: 11,660.96
• Change: +3.14%
• Trend: Positive momentum across healthcare and financial stocks. Lower inflation data boosted expectations for accommodative policy from the Swiss National Bank.

🌏 Asian Markets

📈 Nikkei 225 (Japan)

• Level: 34,730.28
• Change: +2.13%
• Trend: Gains supported by strong export data and a weaker yen, which benefits Japanese exporters. Tech and auto sectors led the way.

📈 Hang Seng Index (Hong Kong)

• Level: 21,395.14
• Change: +4.07%
• Trend: Strong rebound driven by expectations of stimulus in mainland China and easing tech-sector regulations. Positive investor sentiment returned after a prolonged slump.

📈 KOSPI (South Korea)

• Level: 2,483.42
• Change: +1.19%
• Trend: Moderate gains led by chipmakers and tech exporters, riding global demand for semiconductors and AI-related hardware.

🧠 Key Takeaways

• Overall sentiment improved globally, especially in Europe and Asia.
• US markets showed mixed results, with large-cap indices under pressure while small-caps outperformed.
• Europe surged on hopes of looser monetary policy and better-than-expected economic indicators.
• Asia rebounded, driven by local stimuli, export strength, and renewed investor confidence.
• Switzerland held strong, with defensives and financials benefitting from macroeconomic stability.