Wall Street Opens Holiday Week Mixed as Rate Cut Hopes Fuel Tech Gains; Key Economic Data and Earnings Ahead

Market Overview - The U.S. stock market opened on November 24, 2025, with a mixed but generally positive tone, driven by investor confidence in potential interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve [1] - The Nasdaq Composite rose by 1.4%, while the S&P 500 gained 0.6%, contrasting with a slight dip of 0.1% in the Dow Jones Industrial Average [2] - The market sentiment is influenced by expectations of a quarter-percentage point interest rate cut at the upcoming December meeting of the Federal Reserve [2] Recent Market Performance - Last week, all three major indexes finished lower, with the Nasdaq down 2.7% and both the Dow and S&P 500 dropping 1.9% [3] - The opening performance on Monday suggests a renewed push higher as the week begins [3] Upcoming Economic Reports - Key economic reports are set to be released this week, including delayed September retail sales and Producer Price Index (PPI) reports on November 25 [5] - Additional reports include weekly jobless claims and durable goods orders for September on November 26, and the October Chicago Fed National Activity Index and November Dallas Fed Manufacturing Survey on November 24 [5] Corporate Earnings - Notable companies reporting earnings this week include Zoom Video Communications, Alibaba, and Deere & Company, which will provide insights into corporate health and consumer behavior [6] Major Stock News - US Foods Holdings shares surged by 5.5% after terminating merger talks with Performance Food Group, whose shares fell nearly 3% [7] - Ross Stores Inc. saw an 8.4% increase in shares after reporting adjusted earnings of $1.58 per share, surpassing estimates [8] - Intuit Inc. shares climbed 4% following adjusted earnings of $3.34 per share, also exceeding expectations [8] - UGI Corp. reported a narrower-than-expected loss, leading to a 7.1% gain in shares [8] - Copart Inc. shares fell 0.7% after missing revenue estimates [8] Sector-Specific Developments - Novo Nordisk shares dropped 10% after its Alzheimer's drug trial failed, potentially impacting the pharmaceutical sector [9] - Alibaba shares gained 4.7% in Hong Kong trading, driven by strong demand for its updated Qwen AI app ahead of its earnings report [9] - JPMorgan analysts identified 15 AI-exposed stocks as potential bargains, with declines of 10% to 40% from recent highs, indicating investment opportunities in the AI sector [10]