The Economic Times·2025-12-19 15:18Market Overview - U.S. stocks experienced a rebound on Friday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average rising about 0.6%, the S&P 500 gaining roughly 0.8%, and the Nasdaq Composite climbing more than 1% [18][19] - Despite Friday's gains, major indexes remained slightly lower for the week, with both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq struggling in December amid a rotation out of large technology stocks [5][19] Economic Indicators - Inflation data indicated that consumer prices are cooling faster than expected in November, reviving hopes for multiple interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve in 2026 [18][19] - Signs of a softening job market reinforced expectations for easier monetary policy [18] Sector Performance - Tech stocks led the market advance, with Nvidia shares climbing over 3% following reports of U.S. government reviews for H200 chip exports to China, which boosted confidence in the AI sector [7][19] - Oracle's shares surged nearly 8% after ByteDance signed deals for a U.S.-based TikTok joint venture, alleviating recent uncertainties [7][19] - Other chip stocks also saw gains, with AMD up nearly 5%, Intel rising about 3%, Broadcom adding roughly 2.5%, and Micron jumping another 7% after a previous 10% surge [8][19] Treasury Yields - The benchmark 10-year Treasury yield rose to approximately 4.15% as investors reacted to the Bank of Japan's interest rate hike, the highest since 1995 [9][19] - Despite the increase in yields, stocks continued to advance, indicating that investors are focused on the broader outlook for U.S. rate cuts rather than immediate global tightening [9][19] Investor Sentiment - Analysts noted that recent market volatility reflects uncertainty around interest rates and earnings growth, leading investors to favor value and defensive sectors over high-growth names [6][19] - Seasonal hopes for a "Santa Claus rally" have diminished, but improving inflation trends and renewed strength in AI-linked stocks could provide support later in the month [11][19]