FINANCIAL BLOG

Second quarter earnings season, which winds down this week and next, has met some of the highest expectations. Strong beat rates, big upside earnings surprises, and increases in estimates during the past four weeks were consistent themes that gave investors very little to complain about.

LPL Research provides its Weekly Market Performance for the week of August 11, 2025. U.S. equities held on to weekly gains amid a busy week on the economic calendar and relatively quiet news flow elsewhere. Federal Reserve (Fed) rate cut bets were the hot topic of the week as investors digested mixed signals on the American economy and consumer.

We’re all ready to put the tariff talk to bed. But don’t worry. While this commentary provides an update on the tariff situation, there’s more happening on the policy front than just tariffs. Whatever policy we highlight, it’s clear that the stock market is sailing through those choppy, even unprecedented waters.