Market Update from Q3 2025

Here’s your quick Q3 2025 market update, keeping it light and focused on what matters:

1. Jobs and Tariffs

2. Crypto and Gold

3. The Stock Market

Jobs and Tariffs
The job market’s been hanging tough but took some hits this quarter. August added just 22,000 jobs—barely a blip—and unemployment crept up to 4.3%, a four-year high. September’s data got delayed by a government shutdown, but private reports showed a loss of 32,000 jobs, which kind of hurts. Tariffs are making things messier, with China’s export limits on tech materials sparking fears of a trade war. Trump’s threatening big tariffs on Chinese goods starting November, which is already hiking prices and stressing supply chains. The Fed stepped in with a small rate cut to 4.0–4.25% to soften the blow. It’s a bumpy ride, so we’re watching this closely.

Crypto and Gold
Crypto and gold are shining bright. Bitcoin started Q3 around $100K, dipped, then bounced back to $114K—an 8% jump! Big companies are jumping in, and it’s looking strong. Gold’s even hotter, climbing 15% to record highs above $3,400/oz as central banks stock up and trade worries grow. With inflation at 2.9%, these two assets are turning into hedges against uncertainty. 

The Stock Market
The stock market’s like a phoenix, soaring after April’s dip. The S&P 500 gained 8.1% this quarter, with September’s 3.6% pop being its best in ages. Nasdaq climbed 11.2% on a tech rally, and small caps in the Russell 2000 jumped 12.4%. Despite job and tariff jitters, 10 of 11 S&P sectors powered through, led by tech. From April’s low to today’s highs, we’re up 34%! Patience pays, folks—volatility’s just part of the game.

All in all the economy is a fairly bumpy ride, but the markets did well. Remember:

Save and invest every paycheck.

Buy low, sell high!

Play the long game—stay patient.

Happy investing!

Johnny T