Market Overview - US stock futures declined on the first trading day of December, with Dow Jones Industrial Average futures falling by 0.4%, S&P 500 futures down 0.5%, and Nasdaq 100 futures decreasing by 0.7% [1] - The declines followed a holiday-shortened week where the S&P 500 surged 3.7%, Nasdaq Composite jumped nearly 5%, and Dow logged a solid 3.2% gain [2] Seasonal Trends - December is historically one of the market's friendliest months, often boosted by the "Santa Clause rally" during the Christmas break [3] - Analysts are cautious about a booming holiday season this year due to unpredictable market behavior throughout the year [3] Economic Indicators - The Thanksgiving week rally was largely driven by rising hopes for an interest rate cut from the Federal Reserve, with over 85% of bets on a quarter-point cut next week [4] - Economic releases are returning to normal after a government shutdown, with key reports including September's Personal Consumption Expenditures index and private reports on manufacturing and service sector activity [5] Corporate Earnings - Corporate earnings reports are expected this week from bargain retailers Dollar Tree, Dollar General, and Five Below, as well as tech companies Salesforce and CrowdStrike [6]

US stocks slipped on Monday but recovered from steeper earlier losses, while bitcoin's (BTC-USD) slump deepened as Wall Street's strong late-November rebound took a bumpier turn to begin December. The Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) and the S&P 500 (^GSPC) fell around 0.1%, paring earlier tech-led losses. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) slipped around 0.3%, after the blue-chip benchmark led Wall Street indexes to a fifth day of gains on Friday. Nvidia (NVDA) stock fell 1% at the open before reversing c ...

Market Overview - U.S. stock markets closed higher on November 28, 2025, with all three major indexes extending a multi-day rally, driven by hopes for future interest rate cuts and positive economic data [1][12] - The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) rose 0.6% to 47,427.12, the Nasdaq Composite (IXIC) increased by 0.7% to 23,214.69, and the S&P 500 (SPX) gained 0.5% to 6,812.61, marking the fifth consecutive session of increases for all three benchmarks [2] Weekly Performance - For the week, the Nasdaq surged 4.9%, the S&P 500 was up approximately 3.7%, and the Dow gained about 3.2% [3] - November was mixed; while the S&P 500 and Dow extended their winning streaks to seven months, the Nasdaq ended down 1.5%, attributed to reassessment of profitability timelines for major AI companies [3] Economic Data - Initial jobless claims decreased by 6,000 to 216,000, below the consensus estimate of 229,000, indicating a strong labor market [5] - Orders for durable goods rose by 0.5% in September, missing estimates, while non-defense capital goods orders increased by 0.9%, a key indicator for business spending [5] Upcoming Events - Market participants are monitoring the potential for another interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve next month, which is a significant driver of market optimism [4] - Kevin Hassett is a key contender for the next Fed Chairman, with an announcement expected from President Trump before Christmas, which could influence monetary policy expectations [4] Individual Stock Performance - Intel (INTC) surged 10.2%, leading the S&P 500, following speculation it could become a foundry supplier for Apple (AAPL) processors [7] - Eli Lilly (LLY) shares slipped 2.6%, giving back some recent gains despite a market cap exceeding $1 trillion due to sales of weight-loss drugs [8] - Nvidia (NVDA) shares slid 1.8% amid competitive concerns, while other tech stocks like Microsoft (MSFT) and Amazon (AMZN) saw gains of 1.3% and 1.8%, respectively [9] Sector Performance - Retailers performed well on Black Friday, with Walmart (WMT), Target (TGT), and Amazon (AMZN) finishing up roughly 1% to 2% [10] - Cryptocurrency-related stocks rose as Bitcoin moved above $90,000, with Marathon Digital Holdings (MARA), MicroStrategy (MSTR), and Coinbase Global (COIN) up by 7%, 5%, and 5%, respectively [11]

Market Outlook - The market outlook for the next year is optimistic, driven by favorable economic conditions and a recent 4.2% gain in the S&P 500 over the past week, indicating a potential return of bullish sentiment [1] - The market rally ahead of Thanksgiving was supported by a rebound in technology stocks and increasing expectations of a December Fed rate cut, which has enhanced investor appetite [1][2] S&P 500 Projections - Deutsche Bank projects the S&P 500 index to reach 8,000 by the end of 2026, expecting "mid-teens" returns due to healthy inflows, continued buybacks, and strong earnings [3] - HSBC and JPMorgan have set a target of 7,500 for the S&P 500 in 2026, with JPMorgan suggesting it could reach 8,000 if the Fed implements additional rate cuts next year [4] - Morgan Stanley and Wells Fargo are also optimistic, forecasting the S&P 500 to hit 7,800 by the end of 2026, representing a 14.5% increase from current levels [5] Fed Rate Expectations - Markets are anticipating an 84.7% chance of a rate cut in the December Fed meeting, reflecting a significant improvement in sentiment compared to the previous week [6] - If Kevin Hassett becomes the new Fed chair, interest rates may decline further, creating a supportive environment for equities and contributing to the bullish outlook for the S&P 500 by 2026 [6] Investment Opportunities - Investors are encouraged to adopt a long-term perspective and consider various ETF options that may benefit from the anticipated interest rate cuts [7] - S&P 500 ETFs, such as Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO), SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY), and iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV), are highlighted for their potential to offer attractive opportunities and diversification [8] - Equal-weighted ETFs, like Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF (RSP) and ALPS Equal Sector Weight ETF (EQL), provide balanced exposure and lower risk profiles, making them suitable for investors seeking diversified sector exposure [9][10] - Growth ETFs, including Vanguard Growth ETF (VUG) and iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF (IWF), are recommended for those willing to take on more risk to capitalize on a positive economic outlook [11] - Small-cap ETFs, such as iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF (IJR) and Vanguard Small Cap ETF (VB), are expected to perform well following Fed rate cuts, benefiting from lower borrowing costs and increased capital availability [12][13]

Core Insights - Expectations for a December rate cut from the U.S. Federal Reserve have intensified, with major banks and market participants increasingly viewing it as the most likely scenario [1][2] - The CME FedWatch tool indicates an 85% probability of a quarter-point reduction in December, influenced by weak payroll and inflation data [2][3] - A cooling labor market and limited hiring are pressuring policymakers to stimulate growth, making a rate cut imminent to support the labor market and guard against economic downturns [3] Sectors Poised to Benefit From Lower Rates - **Technology Stocks**: Lower rates increase the present value of future profits, significantly boosting current valuations for high-growth technology companies [5] - **Small-Cap Stocks**: These companies are more sensitive to domestic economic conditions and benefit from reduced debt servicing costs and increased access to affordable capital [6] - **Financials**: Banks with diversified operations may see improved loan activity due to lower rates [6] - **Consumer Discretionary & Utilities**: Lower interest rates enhance consumer credit access and spending power, benefiting profit margins in consumer discretionary companies, while utilities benefit from reduced financing costs [7] ETFs to Consider - **Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK)**: AUM of $91.47 billion, exposure to 70 tech companies, top holdings include Nvidia (14.24%) and Apple (13.49%), has gained 22.6% year to date [9][10] - **iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM)**: AUM of $71.69 billion, exposure to 1,958 small-cap U.S. companies, has gained 12.8% year to date [11] - **Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF)**: AUM of $51.45 billion, exposure to 75 financial services companies, has risen 10.7% year to date [12][13] - **Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLY)**: AUM of $23 billion, exposure to 49 consumer discretionary companies, has gained 5.4% year to date [14][15] - **Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLU)**: AUM of $22.07 billion, exposure to 31 utility companies, has surged 21.4% year to date [16][17]

Market Overview - Wall Street is attempting to rebound after volatility in October and November, but concerns over high inflation, economic health, and uncertainty regarding a Federal Reserve rate cut in December persist [1] - Consumer confidence remains low, which could lead to further market volatility [2] Consumer Sentiment - Consumer sentiment declined to a record low of 51 in November, down from 53.6 in October, representing a 29% year-over-year decrease [3] Federal Reserve Actions - The Federal Reserve cut interest rates by 25 basis points in September and October, but high inflation remains a concern, complicating potential future cuts [4] - A shrinking labor market raises fears of a slowing economy, with expectations that the Federal Reserve may cautiously approach rate cuts in 2026 [4] Impact of Tariffs - President Trump's tariffs have increased commodity prices, leading consumers to reduce spending ahead of the holiday season, which may contribute to prolonged market volatility [5] Dividend-Paying Stocks - Cautious investors may consider dividend-paying stocks for steady income and capital protection amid market uncertainty [2] - Three notable stocks include: - **Orange County Bancorp, Inc. (OBT)**: Announced a dividend of $0.18 per share with a yield of 1.90%, having increased dividends four times in the past five years [6][7] - **Dillard's, Inc. (DDS)**: Declared a dividend of $30 per share with a yield of 0.18%, having increased dividends eight times in the past five years [8][10] - **United Bankshares, Inc. (UBSI)**: Announced a dividend of $0.38 per share with a yield of 3.93%, having increased dividends three times in the past five years [11][12]

Market Overview - Major U.S. index futures indicate a modestly higher open following a trading disruption at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange due to a "cooling issue" [1] - Recent upward momentum has contributed to a four-day winning streak for the markets, driven by renewed optimism about interest rates after dovish comments from Federal Reserve officials [2][5] Economic Data - The Commerce Department reported that new orders for U.S. manufactured durable goods increased by 0.5% in September, following a revised 3.0% spike in August, surpassing economists' expectations of a 0.3% rise [6] - Initial jobless claims for U.S. unemployment benefits unexpectedly dipped to 216,000, a decrease of 6,000 from the previous week's revised level of 222,000, contrary to expectations of an increase to 225,000 [7][8] Sector Performance - Gold stocks surged by 4.9%, driven by an increase in gold prices, while airline stocks rose by 3.2%, reaching a one-month closing high [9] - Strong movements were also observed in brokerage, steel, and natural gas stocks, contributing to the overall positive performance across major sectors [10] International Markets - Asian stocks showed mixed performance, with China's Shanghai Composite Index rising by 0.3% after JPMorgan raised its recommendation for Chinese stocks to "overweight" [14] - European stocks moved modestly higher, with the German DAX, French CAC 40, and U.K.'s FTSE 100 all up by 0.2%, amid rising expectations for a Federal Reserve interest rate cut in December [19]

By Ozan Ergenay LONDON (Reuters) -The U.S. dollar (DX=F) was heading for its worst weekly performance since late July on Friday as investors increasingly count on further monetary easing in December by the Federal Reserve, while Thursday's U.S. holiday ​thinned liquidity. An outage due to a cooling issue at CME Group's CyrusOne data centres halted trade on its widely-used currency platform and ‌in stock and commodity futures, though trading began to resume at 1200 GMT. "We are not expecting any signific ...

Intel Corp. (NASDAQ:INTC) is witnessing a notable strengthening in market sentiment, with its Benzinga Edge’s Stock Rankings‘ momentum score climbing from 88.53 to 90.51 week-over-week.Check out INTC's stock price here.Intel Jumps In Top Decline Of Momentum GainsThis shift pushes the chipmaker into the top tier of relative strength, signaling that investors are prioritizing macroeconomic tailwinds over a brewing corporate espionage issue involving its foundry rival, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Lt ...

Activity is likely to be somewhat subdued amid thin volumes on Friday with trading scheduled to end at 1 PM ET. The economic calendar is blank and there are not many news from the corporate front to warrant significant moves.Futures were slightly up a little while ago. The Dow futures were up 0.11 percent, the S&P futures were up 0.10 percent, and the Nasdaq futures climbed 0.18 percent.The market remained shut on Thursday for Thanksgiving Day holiday.Trading in the futures segment was disrupted earlier du ...