The S&P 500 hit a new all-time high on September 11, fueled by optimism around potential interest rate cuts despite persistent inflation and labor market pressures. With rate reductions anticipated later this year, investors remain focused on economic data that could shape future monetary policy and market performance.

In the August 2025 edition of “Markets Monthly: Strategies & Perspectives,” Wealth Enhancement investment specialists provide market updates and economic insights.

Aya Yoshioka breaks down inflation worries, labor shifts & market moves on 7 Market Movers. Investors eye Powell’s Jackson Hole speech for Fed signals.

This week on 7 Market Movers, find out how U.S. equities are once again nearing record highs, mixed inflation data is complicating expectations for Fed rate cuts, and signs of softening emerge in hiring and consumer demand.

In this month's investment market commentary, find out how equity markets nearly reached all-time highs while signs of economic moderation have begun to appear.

This week on 7 Market Movers, Portfolio Consulting Director Aya Yoshioka discusses the interplay between tariffs and inflation and the most recent trade deal with Japan. Aya also covers what we can expect from Q2 earnings reports over the next week. She anticipates that updates on capital expenditures and artificial intelligence will dominate headlines. Watch to hear more macroeconomic updates, including labor market and unemployment data and what those could signal for the markets.

This week on 7 Market Movers, Aya Yoshioka, Doug Huber, and Gary Quinzel from Wealth Enhancement’s Investment Management team discuss the positive indicators they saw in the markets this week. Inflation came in softer than expectations, the consumer sentiment index came in higher than expected, and the jobs report also exceeded expectations, indicating an increase in hiring from US companies.

This week on 7 Market Movers, Portfolio Consulting Director Aya Yoshioka discusses the results coming out of earnings season, specifically highlighting the six members of the Magnificent Seven who have reported so far. Microsoft and Alphabet (Google’s parent company) saw strong growth in their cloud computing services while Tesla saw a rally despite missing earnings expectations.

This week on 7 Market Movers, Portfolio Consulting Director Aya Yoshioka discusses the “strange trifecta” going on in the markets right now and the latest comments from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. Using our 7 Market Movers framework, Aya also covers global economic growth, interest rates, inflation, fiscal policy, monetary policy, global macro risk, and investor confidence to explain what’s happening in the markets and what it means for you.