Wall Street ends the week with mixed investor sentiment, all eyes on the Nvidia report next week as AI stocks remain in focus; here's what to expect

Market Overview - Recent volatility in key Wall Street indices has raised concerns among investors regarding the pace of Federal Reserve rate cuts and high valuations of major technology stocks, particularly Nvidia [1][8] - The Nasdaq index ended higher, while the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average experienced slight declines, with the S&P 500 down 0.05% and the Dow down 0.65% [8][9] - For the week, the S&P 500 rose 0.1%, the Dow increased by 0.3%, and the Nasdaq fell by 0.5% [8] Nvidia's Upcoming Earnings - Nvidia is set to report its quarterly results on November 19, 2025, which is anticipated to be a significant event for investors focused on the AI sector [4][8] - Analysts suggest that if Nvidia's results disappoint, the stock may face significant selling pressure, although there may be quick buying interest to stabilize the price [4][8] Federal Reserve Rate Cut Expectations - Expectations for a Federal Reserve rate cut in December have diminished, with the probability of a 25-basis-point cut dropping to under 50% from 67% the previous week [6][9] - Kansas City Fed President Jeffrey Schmid expressed concerns about persistent inflation, indicating potential dissent at the Fed's December meeting if a rate cut is proposed [7][9] Other Company Movements - UnitedHealth Group's stock declined by 3.2%, and Visa's stock fell by 1.8%, contributing to the downward pressure on the Dow [4][9] - Walmart's stock edged down 0.2% following the announcement of CEO Doug McMillon's retirement in January, which was unexpected and had initially caused a drop of 3.6% [5][9]