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Wall Street Ends Week Higher as Fed Cuts Rates
US stocks posted solid weekly gains after the Federal Reserve delivered its first rate cut since December. The Dow rose about 1% for the week to close near 46,315.27, the S&P 500 gained roughly 1% to 6,664.36, and the Nasdaq rallied 1.8%, ending at 22,631.48. The Russell 2000 added about 1.9% as well, marking its seventh straight weekly advance.
While markets broadly cheered the Fed’s quarter-point rate cut, the reaction was more muted than many expected. In our analysis earlier this week, “The Fed Cut Rates Yesterday. Here’s Why Markets Weren’t Impressed”, we looked at how much of the move was already priced in, and why Wall Street seemed cautious once Fed Chair Powell started speaking.
From the rally perspective, valuations are now under scrutiny as the S&P 500 is trading at around 22× forward earnings and many analysts think some consolidation or sideways trading could follow after this stretch of gains.
Stock market closing data for the week of Sep 15 to Sep 19, 2025
News Summaries
Apple Shares Struggle as iPhone Prices Climb, Growth Slows
Apple’s (NASDAQ: AAPL) newest iPhones did not wow customers with features, but investors are shifting focus to higher price tags. The top-end Pro model now sells for as much as $1,999, and analysts expect average iPhone selling prices to rise 4% in fiscal 2026.
The stock gained for five days after falling post-launch, supported by optimism that more expensive devices can lift revenue even if upgrade cycles remain slow. Still, Apple shares remain down nearly 3% in 2025, far behind the Nasdaq Composite’s 16% gain.
Revenue growth has been sluggish. Apple’s sales are projected to rise 6% this year and next, less than half the expected growth for the S&P 500 tech sector. At the same time, the stock trades at 30 times estimated earnings, about 50% above its 10-year average. Analyst sentiment has dropped to a five-year low, with fewer buy ratings as concerns grow about valuation and weak innovation.
Early signs suggest the iPhone 17 could see better demand than last year’s models, but without breakthrough AI features or a major hardware shift, investors remain cautious. For Apple, innovation beyond price hikes remains the key to unlocking meaningful growth.
SoftBank’s OpenAI Japan Venture Faces Delays
SoftBank’s plan to launch a joint venture with OpenAI in Japan has fallen behind schedule. The partnership, announced in February by Masayoshi Son and Sam Altman, was originally expected to be set up by July. Preparations are taking longer, with an update now expected in November.
The venture, called SB OpenAI Japan, will be owned by OpenAI and a new entity created by SoftBank and its telecom arm. The products and services to be offered are still under discussion. SoftBank said preparations are moving forward but offered no details. OpenAI did not respond to requests for comment.
The delay highlights the challenges SoftBank faces as it re-enters big-ticket tech investments after years of setbacks. Its $500 billion Stargate project to build data centers in the US has also been pushed back due to extended negotiations.
Essentially, SoftBank remains a high-risk, high-reward bet on the AI wave. Execution delays may dent near-term confidence, but if the Japan venture and data center plans materialize, SoftBank could regain a central role in the global AI supply chain.
Google Brings Gemini AI to Chrome Browser
Google is rolling out its Gemini AI model across the Chrome browser, starting in the US. The update will allow users to get page explanations, condense information across tabs, reopen closed sites, and even integrate Chrome with apps such as Calendar, YouTube and Maps.
The push comes just weeks after Google avoided an antitrust breakup that could have forced a sale of Chrome. Judge Amit Mehta ruled that AI tools already behave like search engines. With Gemini in Chrome, the company aims to make its browser smarter while keeping speed, simplicity, and safety intact.
As part of the rollout, Gemini will answer questions from the address bar, detect scams, change passwords on sites such as Spotify, and later handle everyday tasks like ordering groceries. The features launch in English for US users before expanding globally.
For investors, Google’s Gemini integration is another step in the AI arms race with Microsoft and OpenAI. While Google lags in some areas of AI adoption, embedding Gemini directly into Chrome gives a strong distribution advantage. Alphabet shares are up over 50% in the last six months and more than 30% year-to-date, showing strong momentum going into this expansion.
From the World of Crypto
Dogecoin ETF Brings Meme Coin to Wall Street
A new exchange-traded fund (ETF) based on Dogecoin launches under the ticker DOJE, bringing the internet-born cryptocurrency into the mainstream market. Dogecoin, created as a joke in 2013, has no supply cap or clear utility but still commands a market capitalization of $42 billion, making it the eighth-largest digital asset.
The ETF arrives with little fanfare, showing how once-speculative products are becoming part of Wall Street’s everyday lineup. Analysts note that the SEC recently eased rules for listing commodity-based ETFs, paving the way for more crypto-themed funds beyond Bitcoin.
While Dogecoin has a reputation for volatility — it recently traded near 28 cents, about 40% below late-2024 highs — demand persists. Supporters argue that ETFs provide easier access and liquidity for retail investors. Critics caution that Dogecoin still lacks fundamental utility.
For investors, the DOJE ETF is a reminder of how quickly crypto products are moving from internet culture to regulated markets. After Bitcoin ETFs spurred billions in inflows this year, meme assets are following close behind. Global investors should watch carefully: speculative products like DOJE may add liquidity to crypto markets but also raise questions about sustainability and risk.
Key headlines of the week
Warner Bros Jumps 48% on $70B Deal Buzz | Warner Bros Discovery soared after reports David Ellison may follow his $8B Paramount buy with a $70B bid for Warner. Earlier this week, we unpacked why the timing matters from regulatory shifts to debt dynamics and how this could reshape the media landscape.
Intel Spikes 26% as Nvidia Buys $5B Stake | Intel jumped after Nvidia took a 4% stake, just weeks after the US government bought 10%. This deal is not only money, it is credibility and political backing for Intel. In our analysis this week, we explored how it strengthens the “America first chips” strategy and what it signals for rivals like TSMC and AMD.
Uber Safari Launches in Kenya | Uber is marking 10 years in Kenya with safari bookings through Nairobi National Park. Tourism is 10% of the country’s GDP and $4.3B in annual revenue. We highlighted earlier this week how Uber is embedding into local economies and why tourism makes the perfect entry point for global tech in emerging markets.
