Economic Growth - The U.S. economy grew at an annualized rate of 4.3% in the third quarter, surpassing economists' expectations of 3.3% [1] - Real GDP rose at an annualized rate of 3.8% in the second quarter, following a contraction of 0.6% in the first quarter, indicating a 2.5% annualized growth rate for the first three quarters of 2025 [2] GDP Components - The increase in real GDP in the third quarter was driven by higher consumer spending, exports, and government spending, although this was partially offset by a decrease in investment [5] - Real final sales to private domestic purchasers rose by 3% in the third quarter, slightly above the 2.9% increase in the second quarter [8] Inflation Metrics - The price index for gross domestic purchases increased by 3.4% in the third quarter, up from a 2% increase in the second quarter [9] - The personal consumption expenditures (PCE) index rose by 2.8% in the third quarter, compared to a 2.1% increase in the prior quarter [9] Future Estimates - The third-quarter GDP figure is subject to revision, with the final estimate scheduled for release on January 22 [12][14]

Core Viewpoint - Retail inflows into U.S. stocks are projected to reach a record high in 2025, driven by individual investors who are becoming a significant force in the market rally, which is expected to continue into the next year due to anticipated interest rate cuts [1] Group 1 - Individual investors are increasingly influencing the stock market, contributing to a rally that analysts believe will persist [1] - The expectation of interest rate cuts is a key factor driving this anticipated growth in retail inflows [1]

The race for Fed chair looks to be entering its final phase. Said this a few or does it because now we're back to four or five again. >> It's four. >> You missed you missed the dropping of the one when you were out. >> No, but I was reading it this morning that both Kevins are back in. Waller's in and readers, right? Okay. I saw that. Senior economics reporter Steve Leeman joins us with the details. Hey Steve. Uh Joe, President Trump's extended search for the next Fed chair reaching the endgame with a flurr ...

President Donald Trump is pushing for regime change in Venezuela Gold and silver hit record highs on Monday, fuelled by rising tensions off the coast of Venezuela and the prospect of US interest rate cuts. The price of gold jumped as high as $4,420 (£3,290) per troy ounce in early trading in London, benefitting from a gain of almost 2pc. The latest surge in prices has been triggered by Donald Trump’s blockade and seizure of Venezuelan oil tankers, leading traders to rush into safe haven assets. Invest ...

Company Overview - Agnico Eagle Mines (AEM) shares increased by 3.3% to $174.21, reflecting a 6.3% gain over the past four weeks, driven by a rally in gold prices due to expectations of interest rate cuts and economic uncertainties [1][2] - The company is expected to report quarterly earnings of $2.01 per share, representing a year-over-year increase of 59.5%, with revenues projected at $3 billion, up 35% from the previous year [2] Earnings Estimates - The consensus EPS estimate for Agnico has remained unchanged over the last 30 days, indicating that stock price movements may not sustain without trends in earnings estimate revisions [3] - The correlation between earnings estimate revisions and stock price movements suggests that monitoring AEM's performance is crucial for future strength [3] Industry Context - Agnico is part of the Zacks Mining - Gold industry, which includes Barrick Mining (B), whose shares rose by 2% to $44.73, with a 21.9% return over the past month [4] - Barrick Mining's consensus EPS estimate has increased by 1.2% to $0.86, reflecting an 87% year-over-year change, and it also holds a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) [5]

Economic Outlook - Navellier predicts U.S. GDP growth will exceed 5% in 2026, driven by factors such as interest rate cuts and increased investments in domestic production [2][24] - The Federal Reserve has reduced the Fed Funds Rate by a quarter percentage point at each of the past three meetings to support the jobs market [1][12] AI Investment Impact - AI spending is projected to significantly contribute to economic growth, with Goldman Sachs estimating hyperscalers will spend $533 billion in 2026, a 34% increase from 2025 [15] - Bank of America forecasts spending on AI data centers to rise from $243 billion in 2025 to $415 billion in 2026, indicating a robust investment trend [16] Trade and Manufacturing - The U.S. trade deficit improved to -$52.8 billion in September, its lowest level since early 2020, which is expected to provide a GDP tailwind as more production is brought back to the U.S. [11][9] - The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) includes incentives for capital spending, encouraging domestic manufacturing and investment [7][8] Inflation and Interest Rates - Inflation concerns appear exaggerated, with November CPI inflation at 2.7%, down from 3% in September, suggesting a more favorable environment for economic growth [19][20] - Bank of America projects core PCE inflation for 2026 to be around 3.1% in Q1, which may lead to further interest rate cuts if unemployment remains high [21][22][23] Overall Economic Growth Drivers - Economic growth is expected to be supported by onshoring and data center growth, with lower interest rates likely stimulating interest rate-sensitive sectors such as automotive and housing [24]

Core Insights - President Trump is actively interviewing candidates to succeed Fed Chairman Jerome Powell, with Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller being a prominent contender [1][4][6] - The candidate list has been narrowed down to four individuals: Waller, National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett, former Fed Governor Kevin Warsh, and BlackRock's Rick Rieder [4][5] - Trump's discussions with Waller focused on the labor market and job creation, indicating a broader economic agenda rather than solely interest rate policies [7][8] Candidate Evaluation - Waller had a "strong interview" with Trump, emphasizing the importance of the labor market and job creation [1][3] - Hassett and Warsh have already been interviewed, while Waller and Rieder are the final candidates yet to complete the interview process [5] - Rieder is scheduled for an interview with Trump at Mar-a-Lago in the last week of the year [4] Economic Focus - Trump's conversations with candidates are described as "broad-based across a series of economic issues," countering the narrative that he seeks a Fed chair who will strictly follow his directives on interest rates [7][8] - In a recent speech, Trump indicated that the next Fed chair would support significantly lower interest rates, which he believes will lead to reduced mortgage payments [10] - Waller has expressed a belief that interest rates could decrease by 50 to 100 basis points and has voiced concerns about a weakening labor market [11]

Key Takeaways The mREIT industry rebounded in late 2025 as mortgage rates fell to 6.21% after multiple Fed rate cuts.Lower rates are expected to lift purchase originations and refinancing, easing earnings pressure for mREITs.TWO, NREF and EFC offer high dividend yields and improving financial trends as rates and volatility decline.The mortgage REIT (mREIT) industry experienced a volatile trend throughout 2025 due to macroeconomic uncertainty. Per the Freddie Mac report, the average rate on a 30-year fixed-r ...

Key TakeawaysA record $7.1 trillion in options tied to stocks, ETFs, and indexes are set to expire today, marking a significant "Witching Day" that could amplify market volatility.Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller reportedly had a strong interview with President Trump for the Fed Chair position, with discussions focusing on the labor market and potential rate cuts.Truist Securities has raised its price target for Tesla Inc. (TSLA) to $444 from $406, indicating continued analyst confidence despite ...

Equity benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty surged on Friday after four days of decline in tandem with a rally in global markets as a lower-than-expected US consumer price inflation data for November reinforced expectations of further interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve.Photograph: Danish Siddiqui/ReutersFresh foreign fund inflows also drove the equity markets higher.The 30-share BSE Sensex jumped 447.55 points, or 0.53 per cent, to settle at 84,929.36.During the day, it surged 585.69 points, or 0.69 pe ...