Market Overview - Gold is experiencing a record rally, on track for its largest annual gain since 1979, driven by economic uncertainty and geopolitical tensions, with predictions of reaching $4,900 to $5,100 by the end of 2026 [1][2] - Gas prices have fallen to four-year lows, currently below $3, marking the lowest levels since 2021, attributed to increased oil production by OPEC and resilient US oil production [1][5] - The S&P 500 is attempting to maintain momentum, with a potential record close above 6,932, which would mark the 40th record high this year [1] Gold and Precious Metals - Analysts suggest that while gold has outperformed the S&P 500, a substantial pullback is expected, and new positions in gold may not be advisable at this time [1][2] - Gold miners and ETFs have seen significant returns, with the VANC gold miners ETF up over 160% [2] - Silver has also seen a 150% return this year, benefiting from both its precious metal status and industrial demand, particularly in electrification and AI [2] Oil and Gas Sector - Crude oil was on track for its biggest weekly gain in three months but is now facing downward pressure due to geopolitical tensions [1] - The geopolitical landscape, particularly in the Middle East and Venezuela, poses risks to oil supply and prices moving into 2026 [5] - US oil production remains resilient, up about 3-4% from last year, contributing to lower gasoline prices [5] IPO Market Outlook - 2026 is anticipated to be a significant year for the IPO market, with a backlog of solid private companies ready to go public, including potential mega IPOs from companies like SpaceX and OpenAI [3][4] - Stability in equity markets and successful IPO performances will be crucial for encouraging new issuances [3][4] - The VIX index is currently low, indicating a favorable environment for IPOs [3] Consumer Internet Sector - Top picks for 2026 include Amazon, Meta, Mardo, Libre, and DoorDash, driven by investment cycles and expected growth in their respective sectors [6][7] - The autonomous driving sector is expected to see significant advancements, particularly with companies like Whimo and Tesla expanding into new markets [11][12] - The AI trend remains strong, with companies focusing on infrastructure and use cases that could yield quantifiable returns [14] Financial Resolutions and Investor Strategies - Investors are encouraged to maintain discipline in their portfolios amidst ongoing geopolitical uncertainties and market volatility [26][27] - A focus on income stability over chasing returns is recommended for retirees transitioning into the income phase [29][30] - Tax planning is highlighted as a critical component for investors, especially with new legislation impacting tax returns [36][37]

Key Points Artificial intelligence (AI) competition has brought out the best in Alphabet. The company has a big structural cost advantage that should continue to widen. Amazon, meanwhile, does not get enough credit for its leadership in robotics or its own custom AI chips. 10 stocks we like better than Alphabet › With the market near all-time highs and murmurs of an artificial intelligence (AI) bubble and even a potential market crash, there are some stocks I still wouldn't sell. While I'm not ...

For Immediate ReleasesChicago, IL – December 26, 2025 – Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog includeAnalog Devices, Inc. (ADI) , Amazon.com, Inc. (AMZN) and Fortive Corp. (FTV) .Here are highlights from Friday’s Analyst Blog:Buy 3 Tech Stocks as Santa Claus Rally Gets UnderwayThe Santa Claus rally appears to have fina ...

Key Takeaways Amazon's AWS revenues hit $33.01B in Q3 2025, up 20.2% YoY, driven by AI and core infrastructure demand. Microsoft's Azure revenues grew 40% YoY as Intelligent Cloud sales reached $30.9B on Copilot adoption.Alphabet's AI-powered cloud revenues rose 32% to $15.16B, with backlog at $155B and Gemini 2.5 users at 650M.The artificial intelligence (AI) saga, supported by the massive growth of cloud computing and data centers, is yet to fully unfold. This space remains rock solid supported by an extr ...

Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) has been one of the stock market's biggest success stories ever. ...

Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) is pioneering a shift towards “ambient intelligence” as part of its strategy to address the growing fatigue with social media “doom scrolling.” Panos Panay, the e-commerce retailer’s head of devices and services, highlighted the potential of this new era, emphasizing that technology should seamlessly integrate into users’ lives without the need for screens.Speaking at Fortune Brainstorm AI in San Francisco a couple of weeks ago, Panay said, “There's a whole younger generation c ...

Group 1: Consumer Sentiment and Economic Indicators - Consumer sentiment for December was revised down to 52.9 from an initial estimate of 53.3, although it improved from 51.0 in November [4] - The Consumer Price Index rose 2.7% year-over-year in November, with regional variations; for example, inflation in Southern California was 4.5% compared to 1.1% in Dallas [4] - Year-ahead inflation expectations declined for the fourth consecutive month to 4.2%, the lowest level in 11 months, but still above the 3.3% recorded in January [5] Group 2: Capital Expenditures in the Tech Industry - Major tech companies, including Alphabet, Amazon, Microsoft, and Meta, are significantly increasing their capital expenditures (CapEx) in AI infrastructure as competition intensifies [9] - Meta expects its 2025 CapEx to be in the range of $70 billion to $72 billion, up from a prior outlook of $66 billion to $72 billion [10] - Alphabet raised its CapEx forecast for 2025 and 2026 to between $91 billion and $93 billion, up from a previous estimate of $85 billion [12] - Amazon reported cash CapEx of $34.2 billion in Q3 and a total of $89.9 billion spent so far this year, emphasizing continued significant investments in AI [13] Group 3: Market Outlook and Predictions - The S&P 500 is predicted to rise another 10-15% in 2026, driven by strong spending in technology and the resilience of major companies against tariffs [14] - The tech sector is expected to maintain expanding profit margins even as it enters lower-margin businesses like AI [14]

baona/iStock via Getty Images Listen below or on the go via Apple Podcasts and Spotify Consumer sentiment revised lower for December as year-ahead inflation expectation revised up a tick. Tech giants brace to spend billions more in CapEx as AI race heats up. 2026 S&P 500 Outlook: I'm The Lone Bull In The China Shop. This is an abridged transcript. 2025….has been a year. But don’t we say the same thing at the end of every year? Well, today we’re looking at the year as a whole and remembering three big ...

Market Performance - On December 24, 2025, U.S. stocks reached record highs, with the S&P 500 closing at 6,932.05, up 22.26 points (0.3%), the Dow Jones Industrial Average at 48,731.16, up 288.75 points (0.6%), and the Nasdaq Composite at 23,613.31, up 51.46 points (0.2%) [2] - This performance marked the third consecutive year of double-digit percentage gains, driven by optimism surrounding artificial intelligence, anticipated interest rate cuts, and sustained economic growth despite recession fears [2] Economic Insights - The U.S. economy expanded at a robust annual pace of 4.3% in Q3 2025, exceeding economists' expectations, supported by a healthy labor market and falling unemployment claims [4] - Consumer confidence has dipped to its lowest level since April due to concerns over high prices, while Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) inflation increased to 2.8%, presenting challenges for the Federal Reserve [4] Corporate News - Novo Nordisk A/S saw a 7.3% increase in shares following FDA approval of its GLP-1 pill for treating obesity [6] - Huntington Ingalls Industries Inc. experienced a 0.3% rise in stock due to U.S. government plans for a new class of battleships [10] - ServiceNow Inc. shares fell 1.5% after announcing the acquisition of cybersecurity startup Armis for $7.75 billion [10] - ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd. surged 5.8% as its board evaluates potential acquisitions [10] - Marvell Technology Inc. gained 3.4% driven by strong performance in AI [10] - Nvidia's stock rose 3% on December 24, contributing significantly to market gains [10] - DENSO CORPORATION announced a joint development agreement with MediaTek Inc. to advance next-generation automotive system-on-chips [10] Upcoming Events - The minutes from the December Federal Open Market Committee meeting will be released on December 30, 2025, providing insights into the Fed's monetary policy outlook [5] - Key Chinese economic data, including PMI figures, are expected on December 31, 2025, along with global PMI surveys and crucial U.S. non-farm payroll data in early January 2026 [5]

▲ 图源：Omdia ▲ 图源：Omdia 传统三强亚马逊 AWS、微软 Azure、谷歌 Google Cloud 排名没有发生变化，合计市占达 66%，营收之和同比增长 29%，增速高于行业整体。 其中亚马逊 AWS 的营收同比增速时隔三年重新站上 20%，微软 Azure、谷歌 Google Cloud 营收同比增幅均超过 35%。 IT之家 12 月 26 日消息，机构 Omdia 在当地时间本月 22 日的新闻稿指出，2025 年全球云基础设施服务支出总额达 1026 亿美元（IT之家注：现汇率约合 7198.18 亿元人民币），同比增幅 (25%) 连续第五个季度超过 20%。 分析显示，随着企业对 AI 的需求不断增长，云市场的增长点正从早期实验和试点项目转向企业级 AI 应用的大规模部署。三大云巨头的 AI 策略起初专注于 模型的性能提升，但现在正向为企业提供集成诸多可选模型的广泛平台演变。 ...