US Markets Closed for Thanksgiving; Global Equities Rally on Rate Cut Hopes

Market Overview - The US stock markets are closed for Thanksgiving, following a four-day winning streak driven by optimism around potential Federal Reserve interest rate cuts and enthusiasm for AI-related stocks [1][2] - Major US indexes saw significant gains before the holiday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average rising by 0.67% to 47,427.12, the S&P 500 increasing by 0.69% to 6,812.61, and the Nasdaq Composite leading with a 0.82% rise to 23,214.69 [2] Sector Performance - Technology stocks were pivotal in the midweek rally, with Microsoft gaining 1.8% and Nvidia rising 1.4%, reflecting renewed momentum in the AI sector [3] - Oracle experienced a notable 4% increase following a positive outlook from Deutsche Bank, while Alphabet (Google's parent company) saw a decline of 1% [3] - Financial sector stocks also contributed positively, with Robinhood Markets surging 10.9% after announcing plans for a futures and derivatives exchange [3] Global Market Activity - Asian markets mirrored the positive sentiment from US markets, with Japan's Nikkei 225 rising 1% to 50,069.33 and South Korea's Kospi increasing by 0.7% to 3,986.54 [4] - European markets also saw modest gains, with Germany's DAX up 0.4%, France's CAC 40 rising 0.2%, and London's FTSE 100 increasing by 0.1% [5] Upcoming Economic Indicators - Investors are anticipating key economic data releases and the Federal Reserve's next FOMC meeting on December 10, 2025, which is expected to address interest rate cuts [6][7] - Important economic indicators include Markit PMI Manufacturing, ISM Manufacturing, JOLTS Job Openings, and the Employment Situation report, which will provide insights into the US economy [7] Corporate Announcements - HP Inc. reported fiscal 2025 revenue of $55.3 billion, up 3.2% year over year, with Personal Systems revenue increasing by 8% [15] - Best Buy raised its FY26 adjusted diluted EPS guidance, reporting a 2.1% increase in domestic revenue driven by growth in computing, gaming, and mobile phones [15] - Analog Devices reported fiscal 2025 revenue of $11.0 billion, up 17% compared to 2024 [15] - Wipro announced a strategic alliance to advance AI technologies [15] - Paytm received approval from the Reserve Bank of India to operate as a payment aggregator, enhancing its digital payments business [15]