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Red Flags & Green Lights: This Week’s Market Whiplash

Updated: Jun 14

👋 Welcome Back Investors! (May 19 to 23, 2025)

First off, a quick apology for the delay on this week’s recap, I’ve been out of the country and off the grid, but I’m back and ready to catch you up. Let’s get into it.


We’ve got another round of no-fluff insights on what really went down in the markets. Whether you’ve been following each post or just hopping in, this space is here to keep things sharp, clean, and useful. This week didn’t just shake things up, it tested the rally we’ve been watching unfold. From rating downgrades and tariff threats to sector shakeups and surprise earnings, there was no shortage of movement. Let’s break it all down.



🍎 Apple Slides for 8 Straight Days

Apple (AAPL) made headlines this week for the wrong reason; logging eight consecutive days of losses, its longest red streak in over five years. As reported by Investopedia, the tech giant’s share price has been weighed down by a combination of tariff fears, weakening global demand, and concerns over iPhone sales in China. One of the biggest pressures? President Trump’s escalating trade threats, including a proposed 50% tariff on European imports, which has spooked investors about potential retaliation from China and other trading partners. Since Apple relies heavily on overseas manufacturing and sales, any escalation in trade friction could hit its margins hard. Analysts also pointed to critical price levels, specifically the $172–175 range as key technical zones to watch. A breakdown below these levels could signal more downside, while a hold or bounce might offer some stability.

For now, Apple remains under pressure, and all eyes are on how the stock reacts in the coming days. Whether this is just a pullback or the start of a broader trend will depend heavily on trade developments and investor sentiment.



🗻 Japan’s Bond Shock Sends Ripples Through Global Markets

One of the most under-the-radar yet critical stories this week came out of Japan. As AINVEST reports, a sharp sell-off in Japan’s super-long government bonds has triggered concerns about broader financial contagion, especially in a market environment already rattled by debt, inflation, and trade uncertainty. The sell-off was driven by a sudden spike in yields on 30- and 40-year Japanese government bonds (JGBs), which are typically viewed as ultra-stable assets. The move caught investors off guard and led to volatility not just in Japanese equities, but also in global bond markets, particularly in the U.S. and Europe, where yields briefly surged in sympathy. Why it matters? Japan is home to some of the largest institutional investors in the world, including pension funds and insurers who often allocate capital globally. When JGBs get shaky, it forces rebalancing across global portfolios, which can lead to cross-market volatility. This development adds yet another layer of complexity to an already tense global macro picture, highlighting how local disruptions can quickly turn into global waves. It's one more factor investors will need to watch as we head into the final week of May.



📊 Earnings Winners & Losers: A Tale of Two Reports

This week gave us a clear reminder that not all earnings reports are created equal. While one stock soared on strong results and confidence, another plummeted on weak guidance and caution. Let’s break it down:


💼 Intuit (INTU): Crushing Estimates and Raising the Bar

Intuit popped 9% on Friday after delivering a standout earnings report and raising its full-year guidance. The company beat expectations across revenue and profit, with solid performance from TurboTax, QuickBooks, and Credit Karma. Even more impressive? Management doubled down on their FY2025 outlook, pointing to strong small business demand and growing adoption of their AI-driven tools. In a shaky market, Intuit proved that execution still wins, and investors rewarded it big.


🥶 Deckers Outdoor (DECK): Great Quarter, Ugly Forecast

On the flip side, Deckers Outdoor fell a staggering 22%, despite reporting a solid quarter. The crash came after the company offered a dismal outlook for the year ahead, citing global economic pressures, currency headwinds, and trade uncertainty. Analysts were caught off guard by the cautious tone. With no forward guidance and weak sales expectations, investors weren’t in the mood to guess. The result? A sharp sell-off that wiped out weeks of gains in one session.



🏗️ Trump Touts U.S. Steel Deal, Promises Jobs and Domestic Production

President Trump made headlines again, this time with a bold promise tied to the steel industry. As reported by Yahoo Finance, Trump declared that U.S. Steel will continue operating entirely within the United States, despite its pending merger with Japan’s Nippon Steel. Speaking at a press event, Trump emphasized that the deal would create over 70,000 jobs and ensure that “every ounce of steel will be made on American soil.” The move is being framed as both an economic win and a nationalist message aimed at bolstering domestic manufacturing ahead of 2026 elections. Markets responded sharply: U.S. Steel (X) stock surged over 20% following the announcement, as investors saw the news as a green light for regulatory approval and a signal of strong future demand. While critics question the feasibility of such large-scale job creation, the political and financial message landed clearly— steel is back in focus, and investors are listening.



💵 Dollar Drops as Fiscal and Tariff Fears Weigh

The U.S. Dollar Index (DXY) took a noticeable hit this week, dropping over 1.8% and hitting a two-week low. The sharp move came as investors digested a mix of fiscal anxiety and escalating tariff threats, both of which raised fresh concerns about the stability of the U.S. economy. Driving the drop was renewed attention on President Trump’s $3.8 trillion tax and spending bill, which passed the House and added fuel to long-standing fears around U.S. debt sustainability. At the same time, Trump’s proposed 50% tariffs on European Union imports stirred concerns about retaliation and a slowdown in global trade. With bond yields swinging and the Fed staying cautious, currency traders moved defensively, favoring safer global assets. The result? A broad-based dollar pullback that could ripple through commodity and equity markets in the weeks ahead.


In short: the dollar lost ground this week—not just on data, but on fear.




👀 Stocks to Watch: What This Week’s Moves Reveal

This week brought rising volatility, political headlines, and some major earnings swing, causing a clear divide between winners and losers in the market. Based on the key news and price action from May 19 to 23, here are the names that made waves:

  • Intuit (INTU) – Surged 9% after delivering strong earnings and raising full-year guidance. With growth across TurboTax, Credit Karma, and QuickBooks, and a strong push into AI tools, Intuit became a rare tech standout in a down week.

  • Deckers Outdoor (DECK) – Tumbled 22% despite decent earnings. The stock was hit hard after the company withheld full-year guidance and issued cautious sales projections, blaming macro pressure and trade uncertainty.

  • Apple (AAPL) – Logged its eighth straight day of losses, under pressure from weakening global demand and trade fears. Analysts flagged key technical levels as the stock struggled to find a bottom.

  • U.S. Steel (X) – Jumped more than 20% following Trump’s announcement that the company would maintain all operations in the U.S. as part of its merger with Nippon Steel. The news was framed as a domestic manufacturing win—and investors took notice.


From earnings beats to geopolitical buzz, these are the stocks that stood out in a week where macro risk took center stage.



🛎️That’s a Wrap!

That’s it for this week’s market breakdown, thanks for checking in! With volatility creeping back in, trade tensions rising, and major earnings shaking things up, this past week was a clear reminder that headlines can hit hard. From Apple’s continued slide to the dollar’s sharp drop and a surprise earnings pop from Intuit, there was no shortage of movement. We’ll be back next week with another recap of what mattered, what moved, and what’s next as we close out May.

Until then, stay focused and stay curious. Catch you next week 👋



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