Weekly Summary – 21 August 2025: Jackson Hole, Wall Street Caution, Tech Moves & IBEX Gains

As the week drew to a close, markets centred on the Jackson Hole Symposium, while Wall Street treaded cautiously, technology stocks saw contrasting fortunes, and Europe’s IBEX 35 edged closer to historic highs. Here’s a recap of the main developments.

TL;DR – Weekly Summary 21 August 2025

• Jackson Hole Symposium dominated the week, with focus on monetary policy and inflation signals.

•  Wall Street stayed flat, as investors waited cautiously for Powell’s remarks.

• Tech divergence: Palantir fell sharply, while Intel surged on strong outlook.

•  IBEX 35 crossed 15,000, moving close to record highs in Spain.

•  Powell’s closing speech stressed patience and data-dependency in Fed policy, with muted market reaction.

•  Overall mood: Global markets paused between optimism and uncertainty, awaiting September data.

Jackson Hole Symposium Steals the Spotlight

The week’s agenda revolved around the Jackson Hole Symposium and its economic calendar, where central bankers, policymakers, and investors looked ahead to crucial discussions on inflation and monetary policy. The gathering set the stage for heightened volatility, with anticipation building around speeches that could hint at future interest rate moves. Read more: Jackson Hole Symposium economic calendar and expectations

Wall Street Holds Steady in Anticipation

US equities ended the week largely flat, as traders hesitated ahead of central bank signals. The uncertainty surrounding Powell’s remarks kept investors cautious, leaving Wall Street subdued. Read more: Wall Street flat as investors awaited Jackson Hole

Tech Stocks Diverge: Palantir Drops, Intel Rises

Technology shares were mixed this week. Palantir led declines, pulling the sector lower, while Intel surged on the back of stronger outlooks, underscoring the uneven sentiment within big tech. The divergence in performance highlighted how selective optimism persisted despite broader market caution. Read more: Palantir-led declines and Intel’s strong surge

IBEX 35 Pushes Toward Record Territory

In Europe, Spain’s IBEX 35 index surged past the 15,000 mark, edging close to all-time highs. The move underlined resilience in European markets, contrasting with the more hesitant tone in US equities. Read more: IBEX 35 crosses 15,000 heading toward record highs

Powell’s Final Word at Jackson Hole

The highlight of the symposium came with Jerome Powell’s closing speech. His remarks provided critical insights into the Federal Reserve’s stance, signalling that patience and data-dependency would continue guiding policy decisions. Markets responded with muted moves, reflecting the already cautious mood that characterised the week. Read more: Powell’s closing speech at Jackson Hole 2025

Conclusion

This week’s developments captured a global market on pause, balancing between optimism and uncertainty. With Jackson Hole behind, investors now look ahead to September data releases and central bank signals, while tech and European indices continue to chart their own paths.

*Past performance does not reflect future results. The above are only projections and should not be taken as investment advice.