This was a risk-on rebound week, despite weak jobs data. T. Rowe Price's weekly wrap calls it out:
Major U.S. stock indexes advanced during the week—with several notching fresh record highs—as generally favorable corporate earnings, renewed enthusiasm around AI-related stocks, and optimism about the potential reopening of the Strait of Hormuz supported investor sentiment
US - Led by tech
The Nasdaq posted its best week since April, followed by S&P 500 and Russell 2000. The Dow lagged but still added nearly 3%
Final closes Friday:
• DJIA: 54,036.93 | +1,551.90 for the week | +12.43% YTD
• S&P 500: 7,757.64 | +267.92 | +13.32% YTD
• Nasdaq: 26,690.62 | +1,316.76 | +14.84% YTD
• Russell 2000: 3,034.50 | +103.16 | +22.26% YTD
What drove it:
1. Strait of Hormuz hopes: Reports of progress toward reopening helped drive a steep decline in oil early in week, easing energy inflation fears
2. Jobs shock: BLS said US employers shed 23,000 jobs in July, well below estimates for +80k and weakest since February. Prior months revised lower too — June cut to 20k from 57k
3. Fed pivot: Probability of a September hike fell to around 42% from 55% after payrolls
4. But activity resilient: ISM Manufacturing PMI rose to 55.6 in July from 53.3, highest since May 2022 Bonds: Treasuries rallied — 10-year yield dropped to about 4.64% from 4.74%
Europe — Also green
The STOXX Europe 600 ended +1.70% in local currency
• DAX +2.69%, CAC 40 +2.41%, FTSE MIB +2.96%, FTSE 100 +0.30%
• Eurozone services PMI back to growth at 51.7 vs 49.4, UK services PMI to 52.1 from 48.8
Asia
• Japan: Nikkei +1.93%, TOPIX +1.79%. Yen weakened past 158 after joint US-Japan intervention last week — first joint intervention in 15 years
• China: Divergence — Shanghai Composite +2.81% and CSI 300 +2.32%, but Hang Seng -0.84% on news China will tax offshore insurance policies at 20%. Manufacturing PMI eased to 50.9 from 51.7, services to 50.4.
Commodities
• Oil: Down sharply early week on Hormuz optimism, Brent was heading for weekly decline around $80.
• Gold: Big winner — Comex Gold ended +7.20% higher at $4,340.70 this week — largest weekly gain since Jan 23, 2026, helped by weaker dollar and lower yields.
In short: Bad jobs data = good for stocks this week. Market is now pricing rate relief in September and watching Jackson Hole next week.