CNBC Business News Update - Market Midday: Stocks Mixed, Dow Hits Fresh Record High, Consumer Sentiment Tanks 8/15/25

Episode Date: August 15, 2025

From Wall Street to Main Street, the latest on the markets and what it means for your money. Updated regularly on weekdays, featuring CNBC expert analysis and sound from top business newsmakers. Anchored by CNBC's Jessica Ettinger.

I'm Jessica Eddinger, CNBC mixed markets on Wall Street this afternoon. A record-setting day for the Dow. It hit a new all-time high this morning before pulling back a bit. Retail sales for last month came in below expectations. The Dow now up 75 points being led higher by Shurism United Health, which are up more than 13% this afternoon. We'll tell you why in a moment. The S&P 500 Index pulling back from a record high.

it's down 20 points. The NASDAQ down 111 points. That's a half percent. InVIDIA shares this afternoon are down one and a half percent. Stocks are on pace for a winning week as investors shake off a string of higher inflation reports. And on deck in the coming week, quarterly results from the big retail chains. These are companies hoping that consumers just spend without looking at rising prices. Those earnings that we're going to get from Walmart, Target, Home Depot, and many others. prices are higher, but the consumer is spending nonetheless. Online sales grew more than the total retail sales number in July, likely juiced by Amazon's prime day sale and those other competing retail events. J.P. Morgan says higher costs from tariffs are being passed on to consumers and prices. Actual credit card spending data from the CNBC NRF retail monitor showed higher prices, but also higher spending in July than the prior month. Spending is holding up. CNBC's Courtney Reagan.

Now, consumers really don't like rising inflation. He keeps going up, and University of Michigan consumer sentiment keeps going down. Our last final month read was 61-7, 58.6. That's the weakest since May. Now, if we look at expectations what lies ahead, 57.2, that would be the weakest also since May. CNBC is Rick Santelli. Higher inflation means the Fed may not be cutting interest rates at its next meeting. next month. Voting member of the Fed, Austin Goolsby on CNBC. In the last CPI and now

PPI, we put in a note of unease, I'd say, the inflation kicking up. I feel like we still need another one at least to figure out if we're still on the golden path. United Health shares are popping today. On pace for the best day in five years, courtesy of Warren Buffett. In a regulatory filing, Berkshire Hathaway Disclosing, it's bought 5 million shares in that company as of June 30th. Total value, $1.6 billion. So maybe it's gotten so bad from the stock standpoint that it finally looks so good to somebody like Warren Buffett. It's an extraordinary move for this stock as a result of Buffett and Berkshire. CNBC's Scott Wapner.

Insurance companies, watching as Aaron has become the first hurricane of the Atlantic season, Early forecasts have the storm turning north and not impacting the U.S., threading a needle between the U.S. East Coast and Bermuda. Jessica Eddinger, CNBC. September 16th, CNBC teams up with two-time NBA champion Kevin Durant and Boardroom for Game Plan. Exploring the business of sports, music, and entertainment. Register now at CNBC Events.com slash game plan.