U.S. stock markets showed mixed performance in the weeks leading up to the end of July 2025. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq experienced a series of gains throughout June and July, with the S&P 500 rising as much as 1.1% on June 24 and Nasdaq gaining up to 1.5% the same day. Both indexes posted several days of increases ranging from 0.2% to 1%, reflecting positive momentum during this period. However, by July 31, U.S. stocks declined, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average falling 0.4%, the S&P 500 dropping 0.4%, and the Nasdaq decreasing 0.18%. The volatility index (VIX) increased as the S&P 500 and Nasdaq retreated from record highs despite strong earnings reports from Meta Platforms and Microsoft. This shift indicated a pullback in the market following earlier gains.