Market Overview - The price of Bitcoin experienced significant volatility in November, reaching a high of nearly $110,000 before dropping to around $82,000 [5] - As of recent trading, Bitcoin was priced at $84,200, down from a weekend high of approximately $91,000, with other cryptocurrencies like ether and solana also seeing sharp declines [2][8] Impact on Crypto-Related Stocks - Crypto-related stocks faced declines, with Coinbase and Robinhood each dropping over 6%, and Strategy (MSTR), the largest corporate holder of Bitcoin, seeing an 11% plunge [3] - Bitcoin miner Mara Holdings (MARA) also fell by 8% [3] Investor Sentiment - The decline in cryptocurrency prices reflects a risk-averse sentiment returning to financial markets, indicating that investors are shedding riskier assets amid market uncertainty [4][8] - Bitcoin's price movements are often seen as indicators of broader market sentiment, with prices typically rising in stable markets and falling during periods of high volatility [4] Company Strategy Insights - Strategy CEO Phong Le indicated that the company might consider selling Bitcoin to fund dividends if its market-adjusted net asset value (mNAV) falls below 1.00, with the current mNAV at approximately 1.1 [6]

Core Insights - Synopsys has seen a significant increase in its stock price due to an expanded partnership with Nvidia, which includes a $2 billion equity investment aimed at enhancing AI-accelerated tools for chip design and engineering [2][7]. Company Performance - Synopsys shares rose nearly 7% on Monday morning but later moderated gains, while Nvidia's shares increased by approximately 1% [2]. - Despite the recent gains, Synopsys stock is still down about 10% year-to-date, following a disappointing earnings report in September [4]. Strategic Partnership - The partnership is positioned as a transformative collaboration, with Synopsys CEO Sassine Ghazi emphasizing the potential to revolutionize engineering and empower innovators [3]. - This deal follows a series of partnerships by Nvidia that have positively impacted the stock prices of involved companies, highlighting Nvidia's influence in the AI sector [3]. Market Context - The Nvidia investment comes at a time when Synopsys is facing challenges, including a slump in demand for its design intellectual property and a cautious outlook for Q4 due to geopolitical factors [5]. - Nvidia's shares have also experienced fluctuations amid concerns regarding overspending on AI infrastructure, despite a significant increase in value of about one-third in 2025 [5].

Core Insights - The article emphasizes the importance of making strategic financial moves before the end of the year to enhance financial stability heading into 2026 [1][2] Group 1: Retirement Contributions - Increasing contributions to workplace retirement plans, such as 401(k)s or 403(b)s, can significantly reduce tax liabilities, with a contribution limit of $23,500 for 2025 [3][7] - For individual retirement accounts (IRAs), the deadline to maximize contributions extends until April 15, 2026 [4] Group 2: Tax Deductions - The "One Big, Beautiful Bill" Act (OBBA) introduces new tax provisions that may provide additional savings for eligible individuals, particularly seniors [8][9] - Seniors aged 65 and older can claim an additional $6,000 deduction on top of the standard deduction, which is $15,750 for single filers in 2025, allowing for a total deduction of up to $21,750, subject to income limits [10][11] - The SALT (State and Local Tax) deduction cap has been increased, allowing some taxpayers to deduct up to $40,000 from their income, with phase-out limits for higher earners [12][13] Group 3: Flexible Spending Accounts - It is advisable to utilize funds in flexible spending accounts (FSAs) before the end of the plan year, as these accounts operate on a "use-it-or-lose-it" basis [14][15]

Core Insights - Salesforce projects that online sales from Thanksgiving through Cyber Monday could reach $78 billion, indicating strong consumer spending during the holiday season [4][9] - The upcoming week will feature earnings reports from major tech companies, including Salesforce, CrowdStrike, and Marvell Technology, which may reflect the impact of AI demand on their performance [3][9] - The private sector payrolls report for November is anticipated to be a highlight, while the government's monthly jobs report has been delayed until December 16 [2][6] Company Insights - Salesforce's earnings report is expected to generate enthusiasm in the AI sector, as the company has provided a strong revenue forecast driven by demand for its AI offerings [9] - CrowdStrike is set to report earnings after delivering a better-than-expected forecast for annual recurring revenue in the previous quarter, indicating positive momentum in the cybersecurity sector [10] - Marvell Technology, along with other tech firms, is also expected to report results that may reflect a boost from AI-related demand [9] Economic Indicators - The University of Michigan's consumer sentiment survey for December will provide insights into consumer feelings, while the Federal Reserve's consumer credit report will shed light on American shoppers' debt levels [5] - Data on private payrolls will be released this week, following a stronger-than-expected report in October, which may influence market sentiment [6]

Core Insights - Intel's stock surged over 10% on Friday, becoming the best-performing stock in the S&P 500, driven by rumors of a potential deal with Apple for processor supply [1][6] - Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo indicated that the likelihood of Apple becoming a new customer for Intel has significantly improved, with potential shipments starting as early as 2027 [1][2] Group 1: Stock Performance - Intel shares have roughly doubled in value this year, attributed to recent high-profile deals, including a partnership with Nvidia [3][6] - Despite the increase, Intel's stock remains below historical highs, as the company continues to address investor concerns regarding a sustainable turnaround [3] Group 2: Market Implications - A deal with Apple could enhance confidence in Intel's ability to secure long-term commitments for its manufacturing business, which has faced ongoing challenges [2][7] - The partnership with Nvidia did not include commitments to Intel's foundry, raising questions about the future expansion of this relationship and Intel's ability to attract new customers [4]

Core Insights - Intel emerged as the best-performing stock in the S&P 500, with shares surging 10.2% due to speculation about becoming a foundry supplier for Apple processors [2][8] - Major U.S. equities indexes experienced their best week since June, with the S&P 500 rising 0.5%, the Dow increasing by 0.6%, and the Nasdaq up by 0.7% [2] - Eli Lilly shares declined by 2.6%, reversing some gains that had previously pushed its market capitalization above $1 trillion [6][8] Company Performance - Intel's stock performance was driven by analyst speculation regarding a potential deal with Apple, which has fueled rumors throughout the year [2][8] - Sandisk's shares rose nearly 4% following its debut in the S&P 500, benefiting from increased demand due to its spin-off from Western Digital and strong AI-driven demand for memory pricing [3] - EQT, a natural gas producer, saw its shares gain over 3% as natural gas futures prices increased due to lower temperatures and higher demand for heating fuel [4] Market Trends - Cryptocurrency prices, including Bitcoin, rebounded, with Bitcoin surpassing $90,000, leading to a 3% increase in shares of Coinbase Global [5] - Several AI-related stocks faced pressure, with Nvidia shares falling 1.8% and Oracle shares declining by 1.5% amid competitive concerns [9]

Core Insights - Tilray Brands (TLRY) stockholders approved a 1-for-10 reverse stock split, which will take effect on December 1, 2025, leading to a significant drop in share value, with losses nearing 40% for the year [1][4][6] Company Actions - The reverse stock split will reduce the number of outstanding shares from approximately 1.16 billion to 116 million, with every 10 shares being combined into one [2] - The company anticipates that this change could make its stock more appealing to institutional investors and save up to $1 million annually in costs associated with its annual meeting [4] Market Reaction - Following the announcement, Tilray's shares fell over 20% in a single trading session, reflecting investor concerns about the company's future performance [1][6] - Historically, reverse stock splits are perceived negatively by investors, often indicating a lack of confidence in the stock's upward potential [4]

Core Viewpoint - The price of gold has surged 60% since the beginning of the year, significantly outperforming major stock indexes, and is expected to continue reaching record highs in the upcoming year [1][5]. Price Forecasts - Analysts from several Wall Street firms predict that gold prices will rise further, with some forecasting a potential price of $5,000 per troy ounce by 2026, indicating an upside of approximately 20% [2]. - Goldman Sachs reported that nearly 70% of institutional investors anticipate rising gold prices, with 36% believing it will exceed $5,000 by the end of 2026 [4]. - Deutsche Bank has raised its 2026 gold price forecast to $4,450 from $4,000, projecting a range of $3,950 to $4,950 [6]. Market Dynamics - The current economic and geopolitical uncertainties are driving demand for gold, with many prominent investors recommending increased allocations to the precious metal [3]. - The weakness of the U.S. dollar, concerns over rising government debt, and geopolitical instability are contributing to gold's price support [6][8]. - Central banks' continued buying and fiscal concerns are cited as significant factors behind gold's price increase [4]. Supply and Demand - Third quarter supply-demand data indicates strong central bank demand, with inelastic demand from central banks and ETF investments diverting supply from the jewelry market [7]. - Overall growth in demand for gold is outpacing supply, reinforcing the bullish outlook for the metal [7].

Social Security payments are primarily distributed according to beneficiaries' birth dates. Photo by Zhang Fengguo / Xinhua via Getty Images Close KEY TAKEAWAYS The Social Security Administration distributes benefits to almost 74 million people each month. Here is when to expect yours in December. Payments are primarily distributed according to beneficiaries' birth dates. However, for those who began receiving retirement, spousal, or survivor benefits before May 1997, they typically receive their payments o ...

Market Overview - All three major indexes were modestly higher during late-morning trading on Black Friday, with the Dow leading the gains [2] - The stock market had a shortened trading day, closing at 1 p.m. [2] Key Stock Movements - Intel (INTC) was the biggest mover on the S&P 500, rising approximately 8% [2] - Eli Lilly (LLY) was the largest decliner, slipping nearly 3% [2] - Brown-Forman (BF.A, BF.B) increased by 1.5%, while Lululemon (LULU) rose over 2% [3] - Best Buy (BBY) reported a decline of more than 1% following its latest quarterly financial results [3] Technology Sector Performance - Nvidia (NVDA) shares were down 1.8%, and Oracle (ORCL) fell by 2.2%, marking them as significant decliners in the S&P 500 [4] - The Roundhill Magnificent Seven ETF (MAGS), which includes major tech stocks, was up 0.3% [4] Cryptocurrency Market - Shares of Coinbase Global (COIN) rose nearly 4%, influenced by purchases from Cathie Wood's ARK funds [5] - Bitcoin was trading around $92,000, showing a rebound from recent lows [5] - Strategy (MSTR), a Bitcoin buyer, saw an increase of 2.4% [5]