**Macro and Market Recap: What You Need to Know This Week**

**Stock Market Highlights**

The stock market had another good week, especially for tech stocks. The Nasdaq 100 hit a new all-time high on Friday. The S&P 500 went up by 0.26%, the Dow Jones rose by 0.09%, and the small-cap Russell 2000 gained 0.54%. Out of the 11 major sectors, seven ended the week higher. Consumer Discretionary stocks led the gains, while Utilities lagged behind.

**U.S.-China Trade News**

The biggest news of the week came from a meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. They agreed on a temporary trade deal focused on rare earth materials. China will delay new export restrictions for one year, and the U.S. agreed to pause adding more companies to its export blacklist.

This deal may help ease pressure on supply chains for key items like semiconductors, electric vehicles, and military equipment. However, experts warn that not much has actually changed, and companies are still heavily dependent on China for rare earth minerals.

The White House described this move as a win for global stability. But critics argue that China might benefit more from the deal than the U.S. Meanwhile, the U.S. Supreme Court is preparing to hear a case that could challenge the use of emergency powers for trade tariffs.

**Federal Reserve Updates**

The Federal Reserve continues to take a cautious approach when it comes to interest rate cuts. Dallas Fed President Lorie Logan said the last rate cut in October wasn’t necessary, and that another cut in December would depend on how fast inflation drops. Even with mixed signals from Fed officials, demand for government bonds stayed strong, pushing the 10-year Treasury yield lower.

**Top Performing Stocks Last Week**

– **Amazon (AMZN)**: Shares jumped 9.56% after better-than-expected earnings. Amazon Web Services (AWS) showed 20% year-over-year growth, boosting confidence in large tech and consumer stocks.

– **Western Digital (WDC)**: The stock rose 8.76% thanks to strong demand for AI-related data storage products. Analysts raised their price targets after seeing improved margins and stable orders from data centers.

– **Nvidia (NVDA)**: Gained over 9% after revealing more than $500 billion in AI chip orders through next year. Despite export restrictions to China, Nvidia remains a leader in the AI hardware space.

– **Apple (AAPL)**: Increased by over 3% even with slower sales in China. Its growing Services segment helped offset concerns about iPhone shipments and supply issues.

– **Coinbase (COIN)**: Rose nearly 2% due to strong third-quarter results, including higher trading revenue and better profit margins. Gains were supported by rising prices in Bitcoin and Ethereum.

– **Tesla (TSLA)**: Finished the week up nearly 4%. Investors were encouraged by a $4 billion rise in free cash flow and stronger revenue from its energy storage business, even though tariffs and price cuts are still affecting profits.

– **Microsoft (MSFT), Alphabet (GOOGL), Meta Platforms (META)**: These tech giants benefited from ongoing investments in AI infrastructure. Their continued growth helped lift the broader market and supported momentum for the “Magnificent Seven” group of tech stocks.

**Upcoming Earnings Reports**

Earnings season continues with several important companies reporting this week. All eyes will be on:

– **Palantir (PLTR)**
– **Advanced Micro Devices (AMD)**
– **Super Micro Computer (SMCI)**

These reports will offer key updates on AI and semiconductor demand.

Other notable companies releasing earnings include:

– **Pfizer (PFE)**
– **IonQ (IONQ)**
– **D-Wave (QBTS)**
– **Archer Aviation (ACHR)**
– **Qualcomm (QCOM)**

**Dividend Alerts**

Several major companies will go ex-dividend this week. That means you must own shares before their ex-dividend date to get the next payout. These include:

– Citigroup (C)
– Blackstone (BX)
– Alcoa (AA)
– Sirius XM Holdings (SIRI)
– Pfizer (PFE)
– Ford Motor (F)

Income-focused investors should mark their calendars as these stocks continue delivering steady dividends during a time of market uncertainty.