Wall Street Review: Stocks Sell Off Amid Confusion Over Economic Data and Fed Policy

After racing to all-time highs for a couple of weeks, U.S. equities retreated this week on profit-taking and confusion over the direction of the U.S. economy and monetary policy.

Solid earnings from technology giants such as Microsoft, Meta, and Apple failed to sustain the rally, as traders and investors chose to lock in profits rather than add to their positions. Meanwhile, mixed headlines on trade deals added to market volatility, as market sentiment switched from positive at the start of the week to negative by the end.