Stock Market Today: Markets Closed for Juneteenth as Investors Digest Fed Decision

Market Overview

U.S. financial markets are closed Thursday, June 19, 2025, in observance of the Juneteenth holiday, giving investors time to digest Wednesday’s Federal Reserve decision to hold interest rates steady amid ongoing economic uncertainty and escalating tensions in the Middle East. The closure comes after a mixed session on Wednesday that saw major indexes finish near unchanged as geopolitical concerns continued to weigh on market sentiment.

When markets closed Wednesday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average had edged down 0.1% to 42,403.03, while the S&P 500 dipped fractionally to 6,010.41, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite managed a slight gain of 0.1% to 19,637.94. Trading had been choppy throughout the session as investors parsed the Fed’s latest commentary and monitored developments in the Israel-Iran conflict.

Fed Decision Impact

Wednesday’s Federal Reserve announcement to maintain current interest rates came as expected, but investors were particularly focused on Chair Jerome Powell’s post-meeting comments for clues about future rate cuts. The decision to hold rates steady reflects the central bank’s cautious approach amid mixed economic signals and heightened geopolitical tensions.

President Donald Trump voiced sharp criticism of Powell on Wednesday, calling him “stupid” and expressing frustration that the U.S. has not implemented rate cuts while “Europe had 10 cuts.” The president’s comments highlight the political pressure surrounding monetary policy decisions as the economy navigates uncertain waters.

Middle East Tensions

The ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran continues to influence market sentiment, with the situation entering its sixth day on Wednesday. Iran’s supreme leader warned that the U.S. would face “irreparable damage” if it enters the conflict, while President Trump has threatened potential military action.

Despite these tensions, markets have shown resilience, with Zachary Hill, head of portfolio management at Horizon Investments, noting that “the market just seems very keen to fade geopolitical risk.” This pattern of market resilience in the face of geopolitical uncertainty has been a recurring theme in recent trading sessions.

Sector and Stock Movements

Before Thursday’s holiday closure, several notable stock movements caught investors’ attention. Payment giants Mastercard (MA) and Visa (V) each fell approximately 5% on Wednesday, leading S&P 500 decliners amid concerns that new stablecoin rules could provide merchants with alternatives to card-based systems.

Technology stocks showed mixed performance, with Intel (INTC) among the top gainers on the Dow, rising 2.60%. Tesla (TSLA) also performed well, gaining 1.93% amid broader market uncertainty.

Financial stocks demonstrated strength, with Goldman Sachs (GS) and JPMorgan Chase (JPM) rising 2.17% and 2.15% respectively. Meanwhile, PayPal (PYPL) was among the biggest losers on the Nasdaq, dropping 3.14%.

Commodities and Cryptocurrencies

Oil prices have been volatile in recent sessions due to concerns about potential supply disruptions related to the Middle East conflict. West Texas Intermediate futures, the U.S. crude oil benchmark, closed near $74.90 per barrel on Wednesday, their highest level since January.

Gold futures fell 0.6% to $3,385 an ounce on Wednesday, marking the third consecutive session of losses. The precious metal had traded as high as $3,470 the previous Friday as investors sought safe-haven assets amid geopolitical uncertainty.

In the cryptocurrency space, Bitcoin was trading around $104,500 on Wednesday afternoon, down slightly from its overnight high of $105,600.

Looking Ahead

When markets today reopen on Friday, investors will be watching for any developments in the Middle East situation and assessing the longer-term implications of the Fed’s latest policy stance. Economic data releases scheduled for Friday could also influence trading sentiment as the market continues to navigate the complex interplay of geopolitical tensions, monetary policy decisions, and corporate performance.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. We are not financial professionals. The authors and/or site operators may hold positions in the companies or assets mentioned. Always do your own research before making financial decisions.