Day Traders Diary

3/20/25

The major averages had half a percent moves to the downside and upside before closing virtually unchanged as the U.S. economic growth continues to weigh on investors. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 11 points to close to 41,953. The S&P 500 fell 12 points to 5662. The Nasdaq Composite slid 59 points to 17,691.

The moves come a day after the latest Federal Reserve meeting, in which the central bank forecast two interest rate cuts in 2025 and left rates unchanged. Fed Chair Jerome Powell pointed to tariffs as a source of concern, especially among consumers, which could put pressure on the economy. Bonds were virtually unchanged today.

The on earnings front we had reports from Accenture, Chevron, Darden and Five Below.

Dardens rose 5%, Chevron and Five Below were modestly higher while Accenture fell 7% after the consulting firm revealed in its second-quarter earnings call that its federal services business has lost contracts with the federal government amid tighter spending efforts under the Trump administration.

Oil and gold were higher on new US-Iran tensions and sanctions. Bitcoin was lower even as the Trump Administration continues to deregulate crypto industry.