CME Group outage hits U.S. futures trading

Market Overview - US markets are facing a futures trading outage due to a cooling issue at CME Group, impacting equities, treasuries, and commodities trading [2][4] - November has been a volatile month for equities, with significant moves in European tech, healthcare, and defense sectors, as fears of an AI bubble have emerged [5][6] - The European stock market managed to achieve gains in November, marking the fifth consecutive positive month for the stock 600 index [6] Sector Performance - The healthcare sector performed best in November, with notable gains from companies like Roche and Bayer, driven by strong trial data [6][7] - Roche's stock rose nearly 20% after a successful breast cancer drug trial, while Bayer had its best day since 2009 due to an anticoagulant drug study [7] - Conversely, tech stocks faced declines, with ASML down over 15% amid a broader selloff in AI-related stocks [8] AI and Investment Outlook - AI is expected to remain a structural growth theme through 2026, although concerns about overinvestment and electricity shortages could temper expectations [10][15] - Investment in data centers and the entire AI value chain is crucial, with approximately 35% of S&P 500 earnings being allocated to this area [14] - The market is anticipated to experience volatility in AI trends, but setbacks may present buying opportunities [15] Economic and Fiscal Policy - The US economy is projected to benefit from fiscal policies and central bank rate cuts, which are generally positive for market conditions [18][22] - Germany's growth forecast for 2026 is estimated at 1.3% to 1.5%, with expectations of improved market sentiment if fiscal policies are effectively implemented [27][30] Emerging Markets - The Indian stock market is showing strong growth potential, while China's growth is cooling but remains above 4% [43] - Asia is expected to attract substantial investment, with potential for better performance than Europe and the US in the coming year [45] Gold Market - Gold prices are forecasted to rise to $4,500, driven by demand from central banks and retail investors, as well as concerns over currency diversification [40][41]