The market endured a difficult week with the S&P 500 falling 2.0% and the Nasdaq declining 4.6% as another sharp pullback across semiconductor and mega-cap technology stocks weighed heavily on the major indices. Rotation into other areas of the market, helped the Dow Jones (+0.6%), Russell 2000 (+1.0%), and S&P Mid Cap 400 (+0.7%) all finish higher. The S&P 500 Equal Weight Index also gained 1.6% for the week, underscoring the improving breadth beneath the market’s largest components.
The semiconductor Index dropping 7.9% despite a powerful post-earnings rally from Micron that briefly reignited enthusiasm across memory names. The broader group struggled to build on those gains as investors continued trimming exposure to AI infrastructure stocks following weakness across South Korean chipmakers early in the week and renewed concerns surrounding the sector later in the week. The technology sector ultimately declined 5.4%, while the Vanguard Mega Cap Growth ETF fell 4.8%.
The health care sector (+7.9%) was the clear beneficiary from the rotation out of tech with strong performances from large pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, while the real estate (+4.0%) and utilities (+3.9%) sectors also posted sizable gains as Treasury yields steadily declined. Homebuilders and construction-related names also benefited from lower yields and easing energy prices, with the iShares U.S. Home Construction ETF advancing 5.7%. The continued strength across these groups reinforced the notion that investors were rotating within equities rather than exiting the market altogether.
Treasury yields trended lower throughout the week as economic data, including the PCE inflation report, largely met expectations while crude oil prices continued to retreat. WTI crude fell roughly 6% during the week as negotiations between the U.S. and Iran continued to progress and traffic through the Strait of Hormuz increased, helping alleviate inflation concerns while supporting economically sensitive industries.