5 themes that defined business and markets in 2025: Morning Squawk
CNBC••business
Key Points:
- In 2025, major U.S. stock indexes reached all-time highs with the S&P 500 up 17.3%, Nasdaq up 21.3%, and the Dow Jones up 13.7%, despite volatility from trade tensions and inflation concerns, while precious metals like gold and silver saw significant gains.
- The reintroduction of tariffs under President Trump led companies to adjust supply chains and sparked debates over potential inflationary impacts, with the Supreme Court's pending decision on tariff legality creating uncertainty for future trade policies.
- Artificial intelligence emerged as a dominant theme, with major investments from companies like Nvidia and OpenAI driving market enthusiasm, though concerns about a possible AI bubble and its economic implications remain among skeptics.
- The Federal Reserve
