US Markets Closed for Thanksgiving; Tech Leads Rally on Wednesday Amid Rate Cut Hopes

Market Performance - U.S. stock markets experienced a robust performance on November 26, 2025, with major indexes closing higher, marking a fourth consecutive winning session. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose by 0.67% to 47,427.12, the S&P 500 climbed 0.69% to 6,812.61, and the Nasdaq Composite increased by 0.82% to 23,214.69, achieving its strongest Thanksgiving week performance since 2008 [2][3] - The Volatility Index (VIX) fell by 7.38% to 17.19, indicating positive market sentiment [2] Economic Indicators - Heightened expectations for a Federal Reserve interest rate cut in December are driving market optimism, with traders estimating an 83% to 85% probability of a rate reduction [3] - Recent economic data, including a decline in first-time unemployment claims to 216,000, supports the notion that the Fed may have room to ease monetary policy further [3] Future Projections - JPMorgan forecasts the S&P 500 to reach 7,500 by the end of 2026, with potential growth past 8,000 if the Federal Reserve adopts a more aggressive easing policy. This outlook is based on anticipated earnings growth of 13% to 15% for U.S. companies over the next two years [4] Global Market Overview - Asian markets showed positive movement, with Japan's Nikkei 225 gaining 1.2%, Taiwan's Taiex up 0.5%, South Korea's Kospi rising 0.7%, and the Shanghai Composite climbing 0.3% [5] - European markets presented a mixed picture, with Germany's DAX up 0.2% while Britain's FTSE 100 dipped 0.2% [6] Corporate News - Whirlpool India saw its stock tumble 11.42% due to reports of a promoter considering selling up to a 7.5% stake [12] - Wipro announced a strategic alliance with the Indian Institute of Science to advance breakthroughs in AI technologies [12] - Nintendo entered a share transfer agreement to acquire Bandai Namco Studios Singapore, aiming to strengthen its development structure [12] - HP Inc. plans to cut 4,000 to 6,000 jobs globally by 2028 as part of a strategy to streamline operations and enhance productivity through AI [12] - Symbotic surged 12.95% following strong earnings results, while Zscaler dropped 13.03% due to underwhelming Q1 results [12]