President Donald Trump blasted Democrats over their affordability focus in a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, saying their policies brought historic inflation that he is working to bring down and continues to concern Americans. "The word affordability is a Democrat scam," Trump said. "They say it and then they go into the next subject and everyone thinks, ‘oh, they had lower prices.’ No, they had the worst inflation in the history of our country."Trump said that since January, the administration has "stopped inf ...

As 2026 approaches, homeowners who locked in higher mortgage rates over the last several years might wonder if the new year will finally be the time to refinance their home loans. With inflation continuing its gradual cooldown, mortgage rates ticking lower, and several closely watched Fed meetings scheduled for the end of 2025 and the beginning of 2026, there’s much to keep your eye on. If you’re among the refinance hopefuls, here’s what it all means and might mean for you. What’s different for mortgage ...

Market Overview - The market has been focused on interest rates, driven by inflation concerns, with a softening labor market suggesting lower rates ahead [2][12] - The current economic environment may indicate the beginning of a rally rather than the end of a cycle, contrasting with past downturns like in 2008 [4][5] Employment and Interest Rates - Softening employment data and falling interest rates could signal a transition from a bear market to a potential rally [5][12] - The labor market is undergoing a reset, with significant job cuts from companies like Amazon, which had previously expanded its workforce during the pandemic [9][11] Economic Indicators - Forward-looking indicators suggest that by 2026, there may be a return to economic expansion, driven by changes in interest rates, oil prices, money supply growth, and the yield curve [13][14] - The Federal Reserve's rate cuts over the past year are expected to help normalize the economy, despite prevailing bearish sentiments [15] Sector Performance - The Russell 2000 index has returned to its highs, primarily due to price-to-earnings (P/E) expansion rather than earnings growth, as inflation has decreased [7][8] - There is a notable divergence in performance between large-cap growth stocks and smaller businesses, with the latter facing cyclical pressures [11][12]

Joining me now is Michael Caneritz. He's the chief investment strategist at Piper Sandler. It's great to see you >> as well.>> Thanks for coming in. Did I characterize that correctly. That's right.And by the way, kudos. What do we [clears throat] call III now. Xan >> Xtel.>> Thank you. Number one strategist for that call all year long that there's something bigger taking place here. So tell us what what that is.>> Sure. You know, the the market's been very focused of course where interest rates are going an ...

Market Overview - European stocks closed mixed, with the pan-European Stoxx 600 up by 0.07%, while the U.K.'s FTSE 100 edged down by 0.01% and France's CAC 40 lost 0.28% [2] - Germany's DAX closed up by 0.51%, and Switzerland's SMI gained 0.31% [2] - Several European markets, including Belgium, Denmark, Greece, Ireland, Netherlands, Poland, and Russia ended weak, while Czech Republic, Finland, Iceland, Portugal, and Spain closed higher [2] Company Performance - In the UK market, bank stocks gained after the central bank announced that all seven largest lenders passed stress tests, reducing future Tier 1 capital requirements [3] - Notable gainers included Airtel Africa, Lloyds Banking Group, Vodafone Group, and Barclays, with increases ranging from 1% to 2.2% [3] - Endeavour Mining ended nearly 5% down, while Fresnillo, Berkeley Group Holdings, and WPP lost between 3% and 3.3% [4] - Bayer soared more than 11% after receiving support from the Trump administration regarding litigation over its Roundup pesticide [4] - Siemens Energy and Rheinmetall gained 3.3% and 3.1%, respectively, while Deutsche Bank climbed 2.2% [5] - In the French market, Societe Generale, BNP Paribas, and Credit Agricole gained between 1% and 2.3% [6] Economic Indicators - Euro area consumer price inflation rose to 2.2% in November, up from 2.1% in October, slightly above market expectations [7] - Germany's inflation rate accelerated to 2.6%, the highest since February, exceeding the ECB's 2% target [7] - The Euro Area unemployment rate was at 6.4% in October, matching September's revised reading [8] - France's central government budget deficit narrowed to EUR 136.2 billion at the end of October 2025, down from EUR 157.4 billion the previous year [8] - New car sales in France fell by 0.3% year-on-year to 132,927 units in November 2025 [9] - U.K. house prices grew by 1.8% on a yearly basis in November, slower than the 2.4% increase in October but faster than the forecast of 1.4% [10]

Since last January, we've stopped inflation in its tracks. And there is still more to do. There's always more to do, but we have it down to a very good level. It's going to go down a little bit further. You want to have a little tiny bit of inflation, otherwise that's not good either.Then you have a thing called deflation. And deflation can be worse than inflation. But we have it almost we'll soon be at a perfect level.But we inherited the worst inflation. But we have 20 states that are now selling gasoline ...

Inflation & Economy - Inflation has been stopped in its tracks, with further reduction expected to reach a near-perfect level [1] - Some states are selling gasoline at less than $2.75 [2] - Thanksgiving turkey costs are down 33% compared to the previous administration [2] - Egg prices have decreased significantly, down by 86% [2] Federal Reserve (The Fed) - The current chairman of the Fed is perceived as incompetent and should reduce rates [3] - A new chairman of the Fed will likely be announced early next year [4]

Core Viewpoint - Expectations for the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates in December have increased significantly, with odds rising to nearly 80% from 40% [1] Group 1: Federal Reserve Actions - The shift in expectations may be a strategic move by Fed Chairman Jerome Powell, potentially to secure his position [2] - The change in sentiment follows weeks of hawkish views from the Fed's policy-setting committee, which had previously advocated for a pause in rate cuts due to inflation concerns and strong economic growth [3][5] - Some Fed members, including New York Fed President John Williams, believe current monetary policy is still somewhat restrictive, indicating potential for further adjustments to the federal funds rate [4][5] Group 2: Impact on ETFs - Fixed income ETFs, particularly the Neuberger Berman Total Return Bond ETF (NBTR), could benefit from a rate cut, positioning it as a better alternative to traditional passive bond funds [2][3] - NBTR's smaller roster of 445 bonds reflects the management team's conviction and flexibility in response to changing interest rates [4] - The potential for a "Santa Claus rally" in ETFs like NBTR is suggested, as the market adjusts to the new expectations surrounding rate cuts [5]

Market Overview - Wall Street is experiencing renewed fears, leading to a sell-off of riskier assets as volatility persists in the markets [1] - A slowing economy, indicated by weak economic data, and uncertainty regarding the Federal Reserve's monetary policy are unsettling investors [1][8] Investment Strategy - Investors are advised to focus on low-beta, defensive stocks, particularly in the consumer staples sector, to mitigate market volatility [2][3] - Recommended stocks include The Vita Coco Company, Inc. (COCO), Monster Beverage Corporation (MNST), and Service Corporation International (SCI), all of which have favorable Zacks Ranks [2][10] Company Profiles The Vita Coco Company, Inc. (COCO) - COCO provides a beverage platform with brands such as coconut water and clean energy drinks [9] - Expected earnings growth rate for the current year is 15%, with a Zacks Consensus Estimate improvement of 5.1% over the past 60 days [11] Monster Beverage Corporation (MNST) - MNST is a marketer and distributor of energy drinks, previously known as Hansen Natural Corporation [12] - Expected earnings growth rate for the current year is 22.2%, with a Zacks Consensus Estimate improvement of 3.7% over the past 60 days [13] Service Corporation International (SCI) - SCI focuses on funeral and cemetery services, well-positioned to benefit from the aging Baby Boomer generation [14] - Expected earnings growth rate for the current year is 9.1%, with a Zacks Consensus Estimate improvement of 0.8% over the past 60 days [15]

RT Poloniex Exchange (@Poloniex)Weekly important event:Monday:• Powell Speech• QT Ends• PMI Data• ISM ManufacturingWednesday:• Additional PMI & ISM DataThursday:• Initial Jobless Claims• US Trade DeficitFriday:• PCE Inflation Data https://t.co/PPBsaPP7fn ...