July 3, 2025, Weekly Stock Market Return Recap, by Kip Lytel CFA, Montecito Capital Management. Stocks finished the week at all-time highs after positive job reports, as the tech sector stocks maintain their upward momentum. The S&P 500 rose by 1.72%, the Dow jumped by 2.3%, and the Nasdaq grew by 1.62%. In June, nonfarm payrolls increased by 147,000, exceeding economists' expectations of a 110,000 rise and slightly ahead of May's upwardly adjusted figure of 144,000 (previously 139,000), according to new statistics from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The unemployment rate decreased to 4.1%, falling below the consensus of 4.3% and May's 4.2% figure. Despite the S&P 500 reaching new heights, the rally remains top-heavy. The Magnificent Seven continue to account for a significant portion of the index's returns, making up over 40% of the gains since April.
