U.S. stocks experienced a pause in their recent rally as the S&P 500 index slid on Friday, January 25, 2025. This decline came after a period of strong performance, with the market having achieved back-to-back weekly gains. On Thursday, January 24, stocks were noted to be drifting around record levels, with the S&P 500 hovering near its all-time high. Despite the pullback on Friday, the overall sentiment remained positive, as the market had closed out a second consecutive winning week. Bond yields also inched higher during this period, contributing to the cautious trading atmosphere on Wall Street.