Goldman’s 91st Volume Rank, 30.3% Drop as Rate Cut Bets Intensify

On August 18, 2025, Goldman Sachs (GS) closed with a 0.03% gain, while its trading volume of $840 million ranked 91st in the market, reflecting a 30.3% decline from the previous day's activity.

Goldman Sachs analysts reiterated their forecast for three 25-basis-point Federal Reserve rate cuts by year-end, citing a deteriorating U.S. labor market. They highlighted downward revisions to job growth data and "catch-up hiring" fatigue in key sectors as critical factors. The bank warned that further downward revisions to employment figures could intensify the case for monetary easing, with a 50-basis-point cut remaining contingent on sharper labor market softening.

Josh Schiffrin, Goldman’s global banking and markets chief strategy officer, emphasized short-dated U.S. Treasurys as a strategic position ahead of potential rate cuts. He cited attractive valuations in five-year Treasurys and positioned them as a hedge against market volatility. His comments aligned with broader internal projections of a September rate cut, despite recent Fed inaction amid inflation and tariff uncertainties.

The strategy of buying the top 500 stocks by daily trading volume and holding them for one day yielded a 23.4% cumulative return from 2022 to the present, generating $2,340 in profit. This performance, while positive, reflects modest gains relative to market volatility and the conservative nature of the one-day holding approach.