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Jun 26, 2025

ETF Performance Analysis: June 2025 Surge in $SPY, $QQQ, $IWM, and $DIA Due to AI-Driven Trading and Geopolitical Changes

The week of June 17-24, 2025, marked a pivotal period for major U.S. exchange-traded funds (ETFs), with the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY), Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ), iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM), and SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust (DIA) exhibiting notable movements. This article delves into their performance, the factors driving these changes, and the outlook for the current and upcoming weeks, while integrating insights from Tickeron.com and highlighting the role of AI-driven trading strategies.

Last Week’s Performance: June 17-24, 2025

The week ending June 24, 2025, saw mixed but predominantly bullish performance across major ETFs, driven by geopolitical developments and market optimism. According to Tickeron.com, the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) gained 1.11% on June 24, closing at 6,092.18, just 0.9% shy of its all-time high. The Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) outperformed with a 1.43% increase, propelled by tech sector strength, particularly Nvidia’s 4% surge. The SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust (DIA) rose 1.19%, closing at 42,982.43 after a 507.24-point jump. In contrast, the iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM) showed signs of weakness, with a year-to-date decline of approximately 5.3% as of June 20, though it challenged its 200-day moving average with nascent bullish signals.

Key Drivers of Market Movement

Several factors influenced these performances. A reported ceasefire between Israel and Iran on June 23, 2025, lifted investor sentiment, contributing to a 6% drop in oil prices, which bolstered equity markets. Additionally, optimism over U.S.-China trade negotiations and strong corporate earnings mitigated earlier volatility from tariff concerns and Federal Reserve rate uncertainties. The technology sector, led by the “Magnificent Seven” stocks (Nvidia, Apple, Alphabet, Microsoft, Amazon, Meta, Tesla), drove the Nasdaq’s 1.53% gain, directly benefiting QQQ. However, IWM’s underperformance reflected caution in the small-cap sector, with its 10-day RSI moving out of overbought territory on June 11, signaling potential downward pressure.

Popular Market News on June 25, 2025

On June 25, 2025, market news highlighted a mixed yet optimistic outlook. CNBC reported the S&P 500 hovering near its record high of 6,092.16, with the Nasdaq Composite up 0.31% at 19,973.55, driven by tech gains. The Dow, however, slipped 106.59 points (0.25%), reflecting caution over Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s comments on potential inflation increases. A CNN Business report noted the S&P 500’s 20% recovery since April lows, shrugging off tariff concerns and Middle East tensions. Additionally, Bloomberg highlighted declining Treasury yields and a weaker dollar amid speculation of earlier-than-expected Fed rate cuts, boosting equity sentiment. These developments underscored the resilience of SPY and QQQ, while DIA and IWM faced more tempered gains.

Comparison with a Highly Correlated Stock: NVDA

The performance of SPY is closely tied to high-beta stocks like Nvidia (NVDA), which has a beta of 1.7 compared to SPY’s 1.0. On June 23, 2025, NVDA declined 1.1% due to U.S.-China trade tensions, while SPY’s diversified exposure limited its drop to 0.2%. NVDA’s $3.46 trillion market cap and AI-driven growth significantly influence SPY’s upside, but its higher volatility introduces risk. This correlation highlights SPY’s stability for risk-averse investors, while NVDA offers higher reward potential with increased risk.

Leveraging Inverse ETFs for Strategic Trading

Pairing SPY with an inverse ETF like the ProShares Short S&P 500 (SH) offers traders a strategic hedge. SH is designed to deliver the daily inverse performance of the S&P 500, providing perfect anti-correlation to SPY. By holding long positions in SPY and selectively using SH, traders can capitalize on bullish trends while mitigating losses during market corrections. For instance, on June 12, 2025, when SPY futures dipped 0.56%, SH likely saw a corresponding uptick, enabling traders to offset losses. This approach, supported by Tickeron’s AI-driven insights, enhances risk management in volatile markets.

Tickeron’s AI-Powered Trading Tools

Tickeron, under CEO Sergey Savastiouk, is revolutionizing trading through its Financial Learning Models (FLMs). These models combine advanced technical analysis with AI to identify market patterns with precision. Tickeron’s offerings include user-friendly trading bots for beginners, high-liquidity stock robots for efficient execution, and real-time AI insights for transparency. The Tickeron AI Trading Bots and Double Agents provide dual-perspective signals, identifying both bullish and bearish trends. For example, Tickeron’s Double Agent Bot achieved a +9.77% quarterly gain while the S&P 500 dropped 9.28%, showcasing AI’s edge in turbulent markets. These tools empower traders to optimize strategies for ETFs like SPY, QQQ, IWM, and DIA.

SH

AI Robots (Virtual Accounts)

AI Robot’s NameP/LVTI / SH Trading Results AI Trading Double Agent, 60 min13.19%

NVDA

AI Robots (Signals Only)

AI Robot’s NameP/LNVDA / SOXS – Trading Results AI Trading Double Agent, 15min297.56%NVDA / NVDS Trading Results AI Trading Double Agent, 60 min112.02%Swing Trader, Popular Stocks: Price Action Trading Strategy – Pro Version (TA&FA), 60 min17.01%

AI Robots (Virtual Accounts)

AI Robot’s NameP/LNVDA / NVDS Trading Results AI Trading Double Agent, 60 min112.15%Swing Trader: Search for Dips in Top 10 Giants (TA), 60 min40.95%Swing Trader: Tracking Dip Trends in Industrial Stocks (TA) – Trading Results, 60 min15.84%

QQQ

AI Robots (Virtual Accounts)

AI Robot’s NameP/LQQQ / QID Trading Results AI Trading Double Agent, 60 min52.29%

Current Week Outlook: June 24-30, 2025

For the current week, market sentiment remains cautiously optimistic. SPY’s Momentum Indicator turned positive on June 24, suggesting a potential 12-18.5% upside, with Elliott Wave analysis targeting $627–$647. QQQ is poised to test 540, potentially reaching 564 in four weeks if it holds, driven by tech momentum. DIA faces resistance after its 1.19% gain, with futures indicating flat movement. IWM may see continued pressure, as its MACD turned negative on June 13, signaling potential declines. Traders should monitor Federal Reserve signals and geopolitical developments, particularly U.S.-China trade talks, for volatility triggers.

Next Week Forecast: July 1-7, 2025

Looking ahead to July 1-7, 2025, analysts anticipate continued strength in SPY and QQQ, with forecasts suggesting a 5-6% uptick for the S&P 500, potentially reaching 6,500. DIA may lag slightly due to its exposure to industrial and financial sectors, which are sensitive to tariff uncertainties. IWM’s small-cap focus could face challenges if inflation concerns resurface, though bullish momentum may persist if it holds above its 200-day moving average. Posts on X indicate cautious sentiment, with some traders noting signs of exhaustion in SPY and QQQ, suggesting profit-taking could temper gains. Tickeron’s AI tools recommend buying dips in SPY and QQQ while hedging with inverse ETFs like SH for risk management.

Conclusion

The week of June 17-24, 2025, showcased robust performance for SPY, QQQ, and DIA, driven by geopolitical optimism and tech sector strength, while IWM lagged due to small-cap caution. Tickeron’s AI-driven insights and inverse ETF strategies offer traders tools to navigate volatility. As markets approach record highs, leveraging AI tools and staying informed via platforms like Tickeron.com will be crucial for capitalizing on opportunities in the weeks ahead.

 Disclaimers and Limitations

Related Ticker: SPY, QQQ, IWM, DIA

Contributor

Serhii Bondarenko is an AI-focused trading strategist and financial markets analyst specializing in the development and application of AI trading bots and autonomous trading agents. His work combines technical analysis, fundamental analysis, and quantitative research to identify market patterns, forecast price movements, and analyze liquidity, volatility, and correlations across global stock markets. Serhii actively publishes market insights, forecasts, and trading frameworks on platforms such as Investing.com and Finextra, with a strong focus on AI-driven decision-making and next-generation algorithmic trading. His research aims to bridge the gap between traditional trading methodologies and advanced artificial intelligence, helping traders and investors navigate complex and rapidly evolving market conditions.


SPY sees MACD Histogram crosses below signal line

SPY saw its Moving Average Convergence Divergence Histogram (MACD) turn negative on August 20, 2026. This is a bearish signal that suggests the stock could decline going forward. Tickeron's A.I.dvisor looked at 52 instances where the indicator turned negative. In of the 52 cases the stock moved lower in the days that followed. This puts the odds of a downward move at .

Price Prediction Chart

Technical Analysis (Indicators)

Bearish Trend Analysis

The 10-day RSI Indicator for SPY moved out of overbought territory on August 14, 2026. This could be a bearish sign for the stock. Traders may want to consider selling the stock or buying put options. Tickeron's A.I.dvisor looked at 47 similar instances where the indicator moved out of overbought territory. In of the 47 cases, the stock moved lower in the following days. This puts the odds of a move lower at .

Following a 3-day decline, the stock is projected to fall further. Considering past instances where SPY declined for three days, the price rose further in of 62 cases within the following month. The odds of a continued downward trend are .

SPY broke above its upper Bollinger Band on August 04, 2026. This could be a sign that the stock is set to drop as the stock moves back below the upper band and toward the middle band. You may want to consider selling the stock or exploring put options.

Bullish Trend Analysis

The Stochastic Oscillator suggests the stock price trend may be in a reversal from a downward trend to an upward trend. of 43 cases where SPY's Stochastic Oscillator exited the oversold zone resulted in an increase in price. Tickeron's analysis proposes that the odds of a continued upward trend are .

The Momentum Indicator moved above the 0 level on September 03, 2026. You may want to consider a long position or call options on SPY as a result. In of 77 past instances where the momentum indicator moved above 0, the stock continued to climb. The odds of a continued upward trend are .

SPY moved above its 50-day moving average on July 31, 2026 date and that indicates a change from a downward trend to an upward trend.

The 10-day moving average for SPY crossed bullishly above the 50-day moving average on August 05, 2026. This indicates that the trend has shifted higher and could be considered a buy signal. In of 15 past instances when the 10-day crossed above the 50-day, the stock continued to move higher over the following month. The odds of a continued upward trend are .

Following a 3-day Advance, the price is estimated to grow further. Considering data from situations where SPY advanced for three days, in of 362 cases, the price rose further within the following month. The odds of a continued upward trend are .

Notable companies

The most notable companies in this group are NVIDIA Corp (NASDAQ:NVDA), Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL), Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOG), Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL), Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:MSFT), Amazon.com (NASDAQ:AMZN), Broadcom Inc. (NASDAQ:AVGO), Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META), Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA), Micron Technology (NASDAQ:MU).

Industry description

The investment seeks to provide investment results that, before expenses, correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the S&P 500® Index. The trust seeks to achieve its investment objective by holding a portfolio of the common stocks that are included in the index (the “Portfolio”), with the weight of each stock in the Portfolio substantially corresponding to the weight of such stock in the index.

Market Cap

The average market capitalization across the State Street® SPDR® S&P 500® ETF ETF is 162.54B. The market cap for tickers in the group ranges from 4.8B to 5.52T. NVDA holds the highest valuation in this group at 5.52T. The lowest valued company is ENPH at 4.8B.

High and low price notable news

The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the State Street® SPDR® S&P 500® ETF ETF was 15%. For the same ETF, the average monthly price growth was 159%, and the average quarterly price growth was 259%. DE experienced the highest price growth at 12%, while EIX experienced the biggest fall at -24%.

Volume

The average weekly volume growth across all stocks in the State Street® SPDR® S&P 500® ETF ETF was -4%. For the same stocks of the ETF, the average monthly volume growth was -26% and the average quarterly volume growth was 14%

Fundamental Analysis Ratings

The average fundamental analysis ratings, where 1 is best and 100 is worst, are as follows

Valuation Rating: 52
P/E Growth Rating: 51
Price Growth Rating: 45
SMR Rating: 50
Profit Risk Rating: 59
Seasonality Score: -25 (-100 ... +100)
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Exxon Mobil is a global energy giant with roughly 324 billion dollars in trailing revenue, around 29 billion dollars in earnings, record production near 4.7 million barrels per day, and a long runway of projects in Guyana, the Permian, LNG and carbon capture. The Iran war has disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and could keep a 10–20 dollar‑per‑barrel risk premium in crude if tensions stay high, which would generally be positive for XOM’s upstream earnings and refining margins.
Chevron is a global integrated oil and gas major with growing production, a strong balance sheet, and significant exposure to long‑life projects in the Permian, LNG, and Venezuela, aiming for structurally higher cash flows through 2026 and beyond. The Iran war has increased the probability of supply disruptions or perceived risk in the Gulf, and several analysts warn that Brent could move above 100 dollars per barrel if Hormuz traffic is impaired, which would generally be supportive for Chevron’s earnings and free cash flow.
Shell is a diversified global major with roughly 266.9 billion dollars in trailing revenue, 17.8 billion dollars in earnings, a 3.5% dividend yield, and an active buyback program, trading at about 13 times earnings near its 52‑week high. The Iran war materially raises the risk of disruptions or perceived threats around the Strait of Hormuz, which could push oil well above 80–100 dollars per barrel and tighten LNG markets, a setup that is generally supportive for Shell’s upstream and LNG businesses.
LMT is a defense heavyweight with roughly 75 billion dollars in annual revenue, about 5 billion dollars in earnings, and a backlog above 190 billion dollars spanning fighters, missiles, space, and sustainment contracts that support long‑term cash flow. The U.S.–Iran war has triggered a classic “flight to defense,” with sector ETFs and names like Lockheed rallying as investors price in higher defense spending, missile restocking, and elevated geopolitical risk for years to come.
NOC is a defense heavyweight with about 42 billion dollars in annual revenue, 4.18 billion dollars in earnings, and key growth programs in the B‑21 bomber, Sentinel ICBM, missile defense, and space, which are all strategically prioritized in U.S. and allied budgets. The Iran war has reinforced a rotation into defense stocks as investors expect elevated military spending, ammunition and missile restocking, and sustained demand for advanced systems, and commentary specifically cites Northrop as a likely beneficiary.
RTX is a broad aerospace and defense leader with about 88.6 billion dollars in 2025 revenue, 6.73 billion dollars in earnings, and a 268 billion dollar backlog spanning commercial and defense programs that support multi‑year growth. Management guides to 92–93 billion dollars in 2026 sales, adjusted EPS of 6.60–6.80, and free cash flow of 8.25–8.75 billion dollars, with analysts expecting roughly 6% EPS growth to around 6.67 dollars in 2026.
Delta is the most profitable major U.S. airline, with 2025 operating revenue of 58.3 billion dollars, adjusted EPS of 5.82 dollars, 12% ROIC, and manageable leverage, and it is guiding to 2026 EPS of 6.50–7.50 dollars and 3–4 billion dollars of free cash flow. The Iran war is pushing oil and jet fuel prices higher, with jet fuel benchmarks up about 22% this year amid fears over flows through the Strait of Hormuz, and long‑haul routes across the region are being rerouted, raising costs and causing disruptions.
GD produces business jets, combat vehicles, IT and mission systems, and submarines, with 2025 revenue of 52.55 billion dollars, net income of 4.21 billion dollars, EPS of 15.45, and a sizable backlog near 118 billion dollars that underpins future growth.​ The Iran war has boosted interest in defense stocks; sector ETFs are up double digits this year and analysts emphasize that long‑duration maintenance and modernization contracts can support cash flows even after the conflict cools.
HII is the dominant U.S. Navy shipbuilder, focused on aircraft carriers, submarines, and other major naval vessels, with about 12.0 billion dollars in trailing revenue, 569 million dollars in net income, and EPS of 14.50. The Iran war and threats around the Strait of Hormuz highlight the importance of naval and missile-defense capabilities; reports show interceptor stocks being depleted and stress that keeping sea lanes open will likely require sustained naval investment where HII is a key contractor.
United is a large global carrier with a premium‑focused “United Next” strategy that upgauges to larger, more fuel‑efficient aircraft and adds premium seats to improve margins over the next several years. The Iran war has forced widespread Middle East airspace closures, creating thousands of cancellations, diversions, longer flight times, and higher fuel burn; analysts warn of higher fares and air‑freight rates if the conflict persists.
GE Aerospace is a focused aviation and defense company with two major segments—commercial engines and services, and defense and propulsion—earning most of its profits from long‑duration engine service on an installed base near 80,000 engines. Revenue and earnings growth have been strong, with recent quarterly revenue above 11 billion dollars, up high‑teens year over year, and net income over 2 billion dollars; management guides to 2026 EPS of 7.10–7.40 dollars, well above this year’s roughly 5.4‑dollar consensus.
Shares of Citigroup (C) declined approximately 5.17% in the most recent completed trading session, closing at $110.19 versus a prior close of $116.19. The primary catalyst was hotter-than-expected U.S. Producer Price Index (PPI) data, stoking fears of persistent inflation and a reduced likelihood of near-term Federal Reserve rate cuts.
AVAV surged +16.83% in Monday's session, trading at $294.70 compared to Friday's closing price of $252.25 — a gain of $42.45 per share. The primary catalyst was a powerful confluence of geopolitical demand and corporate developments: the escalating U.S.-Iran military conflict dramatically amplified investor focus on AeroVironment's loitering munitions portfolio.
Shares of Venture Global surged approximately +16.61% on March 2, 2026, closing at $11.30 compared to the prior close of $9.69. The primary catalyst was a stronger-than-expected Q4 2025 earnings report, with GAAP EPS of $0.41 beating the consensus estimate of $0.36 by $0.05.
Shares of CCL plunged 10.11% in Monday's session, falling from a prior close of $31.55 to $28.36. The primary catalyst was a coordinated U.S. and Israeli military strike on Iran over the weekend, causing crude oil prices to surge approximately 8–9% and triggering a global risk-off selloff.
ADT shares dropped sharply — falling as much as 13.4% intraday and hitting a new 52-week low of $6.65 — after reporting Q4 2025 results before the Monday open. Fourth-quarter revenue and guidance both missed analyst expectations, overshadowing an earnings-per-share beat.
Shares of Karman Holdings surged approximately +13.00% in Monday's session, closing near $99.57, up from a prior close of $88.11. The primary catalyst was the release of the company's fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 financial results, which showed strong revenue growth and exceeded top-line expectations.
Netflix dropped out of a months‑long bidding war for Warner Bros Discovery after Paramount/Skydance raised their offer, and Netflix refused to match it, saying the new price was “no longer financially appealing.” The stock jumped roughly 10%+ on the news as investors read this as fiscal discipline—management chose not to overpay, which protects the balance sheet and future returns instead of chasing scale at any price.
SE shares plunged approximately 23% at Tuesday's open, marking one of the steepest single-session selloffs in recent company history. The primary catalyst was a severe Q4 2025 earnings miss: adjusted EPS of $0.63 fell well short of the analyst consensus of $0.80, a miss of roughly 21%.
Shares of Southern Copper Corporation (SCCO) are down 10.32% in Tuesday's session, trading at $196.27 versus the prior close of $218.85 — a single-day loss of $22.58 per share. The primary catalyst is a Bank of America downgrade issued on March 2, cutting SCCO from Neutral to Underperform, which triggered accelerating sell pressure into Tuesday's open.
ETF Performance Analysis: June 2025 Surge in $SPY, $QQQ, $IWM, and $DIA Due to AI-Driven Trading and Geopolitical Changes