Red Week for Stocks: Dow Slides, S&P and Nasdaq Falter

On April 17, 2025, the Dow Jones Industrial Average experienced a significant drop of 527 points, equating to a 1.3% decrease. This decline was predominantly due to a substantial 22.4% fall in UnitedHealth Group's stock, marking its most significant single-day loss since 1998. The sharp decrease in UnitedHealth's share price had an outsized impact on the Dow because the index is price-weighted, meaning higher-priced stocks like UnitedHealth exert more influence on the index's movements .

Despite the Dow's downturn, the broader market displayed resilience. The S&P 500 edged up by 0.1%, supported by gains in approximately 75% of its constituent stocks. The Nasdaq Composite experienced a slight decline of 0.1%, influenced by a drop in Nvidia's stock. Notably, Eli Lilly's shares surged 14.4% following positive results from a Phase 3 trial of its weight-loss drug, orforglipron. Additionally, Dollar Tree's stock rose 8.1% after receiving an upgrade from Citi, highlighting its potential to navigate economic uncertainties .

For the week ending April 17, 2025, major U.S. stock indices reflected the market's volatility. The S&P 500 declined by 1.5%, the Dow fell by 2.7%, and the Nasdaq decreased by 2.6%. In contrast, the Russell 2000, which tracks smaller companies, rose by 1.1%. Year-to-date figures show the S&P 500 down 10.2%, the Dow down 8%, and both the Nasdaq and Russell 2000 down 15.7% .