S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 Extend All-Time Highs Amid Fed Rate Cut Major US equity indices continued their bullish run, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq both hitting fresh closing highs. The Federal Reserve's 25 basis-point rate cut and expectations of further easing supported risk-on sentiment, particularly in mega-cap technology stocks and AI-related sectors.

The Jackson Hole Symposium on August 23, 2025, had a major bullish impact on the US stock market, with Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s speech interpreted as signaling an imminent interest rate cut—likely as soon as September. Powell highlighted increased downside risks in employment and signs that inflation pressures were abating, suggesting the Fed was ready to shift to a more accommodative stance unless new inflation shocks emerged. Stock Market Response