Listen on the go! A daily podcast of Wall Street Breakfast will be available by 8:00 a.m. on Seeking Alpha, iTunes, Spotify.Getty Images Good morning. Here's the latest in trending:Proxy fight: Pressure is building on Lululemon's (LULU) board to make major changes to the athleisure company, with its founder now joining the campaign.Profit taking: Silver prices were slammed in their biggest one-day drop since 2021, while gold fell as well (before both rebounded). U.S. stocks also ended lower to start the Ne ...

For more on what's next for the metals trade, let's bring in Jeff Kilberg. You know, is there gold in then our hills still. If you haven't already bought it, should you get in.>> Well, Contessa, you know, I'm a golden domer, so I always have an optic optimistic view on this special and precious metals, but I do see silver as an opportunity here, but let's look at the price action today. It's been sensational. I want to say historic, but this is not 1980.We're not seeing a 50% drop in the precious metal, but ...

The national average HELOC rate will wrap up 2025 with its lowest rate in three years. Home equity line of credit lenders are repricing their variable and introductory rates for 2026 borrowers. HELOC rates: Saturday, December 27, 2025 According to Curinos data, the average national monthly HELOC rate is 7.44%. This rate is based on applicants with a minimum credit score of 780 and a maximum combined loan-to-value ratio (CLTV) of 70%. With mortgage rates refusing to budge, homeowners with home equity a ...

Core Insights - The stock market provides opportunities to capitalize on various sectors and macroeconomic conditions, particularly during rising interest rates [1] - A hybrid investment strategy combining classic dividend growth stocks, Business Development Companies, REITs, and Closed End Funds can enhance investment income while achieving total returns comparable to traditional index funds like the S&P [1] Investment Strategy - The approach focuses on high-quality dividend stocks and assets with long-term growth potential, which can significantly contribute to income generation [1] - The strategy aims to create a balance between growth and income, allowing investors to capture total returns that align with market benchmarks [1]

Market Overview - U.S. stock futures declined on Friday following a higher close on Wednesday, with major benchmark indices showing a decrease [1][2] - The Dow Jones futures fell by 0.12%, S&P 500 by 0.06%, Nasdaq 100 by 0.06%, and Russell 2000 by 0.27% [2] - The SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) decreased by 0.029% to $690.18, while Invesco QQQ Trust ETF (QQQ) fell by 0.014% to $623.84 in premarket trading [2] Economic Data - U.S. initial jobless claims dropped by 10,000 to 214,000 for the week ending Dec. 20, better than market expectations of 223,000 [1] - The 10-year Treasury bond yield was at 4.15%, and the two-year bond yield was at 3.51% [2] - The CME Group's FedWatch tool indicates an 84.5% probability that the Federal Reserve will keep interest rates unchanged in January [2] Company Highlights - Dynavax Technologies (NASDAQ:DVAX) shares surged by 38.19% following Sanofi's announcement to acquire the vaccines company [5] - Davis Commodities Ltd. (NASDAQ:DTCK) reported revenue of $95 million for the six months ending June 30, a 42.1% increase from $66.9 million a year earlier, leading to a 7.19% rise in its shares [4] - Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:NVDA) shares rose by 0.58% after announcing a non-exclusive licensing agreement with AI chip startup Groq [5] - Sobr Safe Inc. (NASDAQ:SOBR) shares dropped by 15.61% after announcing a private placement of 1.29 million shares at $1.55 per share [5][6] - Biohaven Ltd. (NYSE:BHVN) shares fell by 14.06% after its Phase 2 study of BHV-7000 in major depressive disorder failed to meet its primary endpoint [13] Analyst Insights - University of Michigan economist Justin Wolfers criticized the media's focus on record stock numbers, stating that U.S. markets are up 18% but lag behind global markets, which have risen by 30% [9][10] - Wolfers highlighted a disconnect between GDP growth of over 4% and a more modest Gross Domestic Income (GDI) growth of 2.4%, suggesting potential job creation stagnation [10]

Market Performance - The Topix index reached an all-time intraday high of 3,436.75 before closing at 3,423.06, up 0.2% [1][4] - The Nikkei index rose 0.7% to close at 50,750.39, marking a 2.5% gain for the week and projecting a 26% surge in 2025 [4] Economic Factors - Easing concerns about Japan's debt have positively impacted the stock market [4] - The Japanese government approved a record budget for the next fiscal year, balancing proactive fiscal policy with debt management [4] - Benchmark Japanese government bonds (JGBs) gained slightly as expectations for restrained debt issuance helped yields retreat from a 26-year peak [4] Stock Movements - On the Nikkei, there were 104 advancers and 117 decliners [3][4] - The largest gainers included Sapporo Holdings, up 2.5%, and Disco, up 2.4% [4] - The largest losers were Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd, down 4.4%, and Mitsui Kinzoku, down 3% [4] Analyst Insights - Maki Sawada, an equities strategist at Nomura Securities, noted that the downward movement in interest rates may be contributing positively to the Japanese stock market [1][4] - Attention is now on whether the Nikkei can close above the 51,000 mark with only three business days remaining [1][4]

Market Overview - The markets are experiencing upward momentum as inflation pressures ease and rate cuts are anticipated [1] - Despite this positive trend, stretched valuations and tariff uncertainties are causing concern among investors [1] Economic Context - The current economic situation has significantly improved since 2022, which saw the fastest increase in interest rates in 40 years due to unprecedented inflation and fiscal stimulus [2] - Central banks have managed to control inflation without severely impacting the labor market, which is historically unusual [3] Future Outlook - The trajectory into 2026 and 2027 appears promising, with expectations of returning to a more stable economic environment [2]

J P M O R G A N Asia Pacific Economic Research 22 December 2025 Global Data Watch: Asia China's post-tariff export diversification is broader than presumed No place to hide: China's post-tariff export diversification is broader than presumed A recurring theme characterizing 2025 has been that Chinese domestic demand disappointments have been offset by external sector resilience. Even as US tariffs on China at ~32% are among the highest in the world, China's goods exports have grown by 5% in 2025, in line wi ...

Core Insights - The national average HELOC rate is reaching new lows for 2025, with some lenders offering rates below 7% based on credit profiles [1] - The average HELOC rate for December 2025 is reported at 7.44%, with homeowners holding nearly $36 trillion in home equity, the highest ever recorded [2] - Homeowners are likely to retain their low-rate primary mortgages, making HELOCs an attractive option for accessing home equity without selling their homes [3] HELOC Rate Structure - HELOC interest rates differ from primary mortgage rates, typically based on an index rate plus a margin, with the current prime rate at 6.75% [4] - Lenders have flexibility in pricing HELOCs, and rates can vary significantly based on credit scores and debt levels [5] - Introductory rates may be offered, but they often convert to adjustable rates after a set period, which can be substantially higher [5][7] HELOC Functionality - A HELOC allows homeowners to access equity without giving up their low-rate primary mortgage, providing flexibility in borrowing [6] - The ability to draw only what is needed from the credit line means interest is only paid on borrowed amounts [8] - For example, a $50,000 HELOC at a 7.50% interest rate would result in a monthly payment of approximately $313 during the draw period, but rates are typically variable [12] Current Market Conditions - Rates for HELOCs can range from nearly 6% to as high as 18%, depending on individual creditworthiness and lender offerings [10] - It is considered a favorable time for homeowners with low primary mortgage rates to obtain a HELOC for various uses, including home improvements or personal expenses [11]

The record for 2025 is unambiguous. Trump has repeatedly called Powell a “loser” and labeled him with the moniker “Too Late” for supposedly failing to cut short-term interest rates early enough or deeply enough. Vice President J.D. Vance chimed in that it was “monetary malpractice” for the Fed to refuse to cut rates in the spring.And let us be worried about what 2026 holds, as Trump gains even more influence over the Fed. Powell’s term as Fed chair ends in May, and Trump is expected to nominate a loyalist a ...