Resource Articles

Sunflower Bank – Market Commentary

Weekly Market Commentary: Stocks Gain Despite Weak Jobs Data as Rate Cut Expectations Increase

September 8, 2025: Most equity benchmarks rose in the holiday-shortened week despite disappointing jobs data.

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Sunflower Bank – Market Commentary

Weekly Market Commentary: Stocks Tread Water as Market Enters Seasonally Weak Period

September 2, 2025: The S&P 500 slipped to a slight -0.1% decline in a week with muted price volatility despite the presence of major events. The VIX, a measure of volatility, ended the week at 15.3 – near its lowest level since early April. The low levels of expected volatility come as the market enters a seasonally weak time of year.

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Sunflower Bank – Market Commentary

Weekly Market Commentary: Powell’s Jackson Hole Speech Boosts Equities

August 25, 2025: Equity markets were little changed over the last week despite some intra-week volatility. The S&P 500 declined every day leading up to Friday’s +1.5% rally which pushed the Index into slightly positive territory for the week.

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Sunflower Bank – Market Commentary

Weekly Market Commentary: Equities Rise, Yields Steady after Upside Surprise to Inflation Data.

August 18, 2025: Equity markets rose last week despite worrisome inflation data. Yields were fairly steady across the curve as futures markets continue to expect a 25-basis point cut to the benchmark lending rate at the Fed’s September meeting.

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Sunflower Bank – Market Commentary

Weekly Market Commentary: Markets Rise as Equities Boosted By Prospect of September Cut

August 11, 2025: Equity indexes had a strong week as stocks were boosted by the prospect of rate cuts. The S&P 500 rose +2.4%, the Nasdaq 100 climbed +3.7%, and the Russell 2000 gained +2.4%.

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Sunflower Bank – Market Commentary

Weekly Market Commentary: Stocks and Yields Fall After Weak Economic Data

August 4, 2025: Domestic equity markets declined last week amidst a flurry of economic data, earnings reports, and market-moving events. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 ended last week down slightly more than -2%. The Russell 2000 declined -4%, and the S&P 500 Equal-Weight Index fell -3%. Treasury yields also declined across the curve.

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Sunflower Bank – Market Commentary

Weekly Market Commentary: Equity Markets Rise in Busy Week of Earnings

July 28, 2025: Broad equity indexes ended the week higher as 2Q25 earnings season continues to ramp up. The S&P 500 rose +1.5%, the Nasdaq 100 rose +0.9% and the Russell 2000 rose +0.9%.

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Sunflower Bank – Market Commentary

Weekly Market Commentary: S&P 500 Gains Slightly Amidst Earnings & Mixed Inflation Data

July 21, 2025: Large cap equity indexes rose slightly this week as 2Q25 earnings season began in earnest. According to Factset, analysts expect earnings of companies in the S&P 500 to grow +5.6% this quarter.

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Sunflower Bank – Market Commentary

Weekly Market Commentary: Stocks Fall as Investors Weigh New Trade Developments

July 14, 2025: The July 9th reciprocal tariff deadline was extended to August 1st, but newly announced country- and sector-specific tariffs dampened market sentiment.

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