The government shutdown is causing a data blackout for investors. But Wall Street is shrugging this off for now. ...

Key Points After a brief pop on Friday, stock prices fell in response to the weak employment report. The report makes a rate cut from the Fed more likely later this month. A recession is also becoming an increased risk. These 10 stocks could mint the next wave of millionaires › Several months ago, stocks briefly crashed over concerns about a trade war and a slowing economy. Now, the S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC) is trading at an all-time high even as recent economic data makes it clear the labor mark ...

Financial Market Performance - The European industrial production showed weakness in Q2, while the US dollar index remained weak, leading to a decline in investor confidence in August. The investor confidence index in Europe fell again, with institutional investors showing stronger confidence than individual investors [1] - Following the appreciation of the euro against the dollar in May-June 2025, the dollar index rebounded in July, but uncertainty in US economic data increased in August, leading to a rise in the euro to 1.17 against the dollar by August 15 [1] - Expectations of increased defense spending in Germany and other countries are anticipated to boost the Eurozone economy, alongside improved expectations regarding the Russia-Ukraine conflict [1] Bond Market Analysis - The European bond market continues to exhibit a bear flattening trend, with 10-year government bond yields in the UK, Germany, and France remaining relatively high. In August, the yield spread on government bonds widened slightly [2] - Concerns over potential inflation fluctuations and uncertainties regarding US tariff agreements are driving the widening of bond spreads, while the European Central Bank maintains a cautious stance on interest rate cuts for the remainder of 2025 [2] Stock Market Performance - Since April, the UK stock market has shown stable growth, with the German stock market performing well since the beginning of the year. European bank stocks have recently led the market [3] - The Eurozone STOXX50 index has seen a cumulative increase of 24.6% over the past quarter, driven by the return of overseas funds to the European market and the resilience of the European economy [3][4] - The UK FTSE 100 index reached a record high on August 15, supported by economic resilience and service sector growth [4] Sector Performance - In the past two weeks, large-cap value stocks in banking and energy sectors have performed well, while sectors like biotechnology, transportation, food, and airlines have also shown strong performance. The AI technology sector, however, faced pressure [5] - Current valuations for major indices in the UK, France, and Germany are around 17-20 times PE, close to historical averages. In comparison, the S&P 500 index stands at 29 times, significantly higher than European indices [5] - The European stock market is expected to have allocation value and potential for growth in 2025, supported by active fiscal policies and a relatively loose monetary policy environment [5]

Group 1 - Goldman Sachs conducted a survey of 333 investors, revealing that Europe is viewed as the most attractive region for investment in the second half of this year [1] - This marks the first time since 2018 that Europe has become the primary target for investors, while interest in North America has sharply declined [1] - The report indicates that 28% of asset allocators plan to increase their investments in Europe, whereas only 2% intend to reduce their investments in the region [1] Group 2 - The European stock market is expected to outperform the U.S. market in the first half of 2025, driven by fiscal measures and a surprising return of defense spending plans [1] - In contrast, the U.S. stock market faces challenges due to concerns over tariffs and the impact of artificial intelligence trade shrinkage on the economy [1]

Group 1 - The U.S. stock market opened lower on May 21 due to weak demand in the 20-year Treasury bond auction, leading to a surge in bond yields and concerns over a new tax bill increasing the federal deficit [1][2] - The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 816.80 points, closing at 41,860.44, a decline of 1.91%. The S&P 500 dropped by 95.85 points to 5,844.61, down 1.61%, while the Nasdaq Composite decreased by 270.07 points to 18,872.64, a drop of 1.41% [1] - Among the S&P 500 sectors, ten out of eleven declined, with the real estate and healthcare sectors leading the losses at 2.63% and 2.37%, respectively, while the communication services sector rose by 0.67% [1] Group 2 - The 20-year Treasury bond auction had a final market yield of 5.047%, surpassing the previous average yield of 4.613% from the last six auctions, marking the first time since October 2023 that the yield exceeded 5% [2] - Concerns about the new tax and spending bill, which is expected to increase the federal deficit by approximately $3 trillion over the next decade, are influencing investor sentiment [2][3] - Major retailers reported disappointing earnings, contributing to stock market pressure, with Target lowering its full-year forecast, resulting in a 5.21% drop in its stock price [3]