Stock Market Update: Mixed Performance as Investors End a Volatile Week

Markets React to Economic Data and Corporate News

Stocks showed a mixed performance on Friday as investors navigated the final trading session of a volatile week on Wall Street.

• The S&P 500 traded 0.2% lower
• The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 280 points (-0.6%)
• The Nasdaq Composite remained flat

UnitedHealth Stock Plunges Amid DOJ Investigation

Shares of UnitedHealth dropped over 8%, marking its worst trading day since March 2020. The decline followed a Wall Street Journal report stating that the Justice Department is investigating the health insurance giant.

This sharp decline in UnitedHealth stock weighed heavily on the Dow Jones Industrial Average, contributing to the index’s losses.

Wall Street’s Weekly Performance

Investors are coming off a losing session on Thursday, where major indices posted declines:

• The Dow Jones lost 450 points
• The S&P 500 fell 0.4%, pulling back from recent all-time highs
• The Nasdaq Composite declined 0.5%

A combination of factors contributed to Thursday’s market sell-off, including:

✅ A 6.5% decline in Walmart stock
✅ Lingering inflation concerns
✅ A dip in Palantir shares

For the week, the major indices have seen mixed results:

📉 The S&P 500 is slightly lower
📉 The Dow has lost 1.4%
📉 The Nasdaq Composite is down 0.2%

Market Outlook: Could Stocks Rebound?

Despite Thursday’s sell-off, some analysts believe the market’s reaction may have been overblown.

According to Art Hogan, Chief Market Strategist at B. Riley Wealth Management, upcoming economic data releases—including the latest purchasing managers’ index (PMI) readings and January’s existing home sales report—could help determine the direction of equities heading into next week.

“There’s a chance that the overall selling pressure could attract some bargain hunters on Friday, potentially clawing back some of the week’s losses,” Hogan told CNBC.

As investors digest economic reports and corporate earnings, market trends will likely continue to be influenced by inflation concerns, regulatory developments, and broader economic conditions.