The S&P 500 rose 0.4% in early trade, hovering just below the all-time high it set earlier this month. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 170 points, or 0.4%, while the Nasdaq composite also gained 0.4%, according to AP.Market sentiment was supported by strength in commodities, with gold and silver touching record highs and oil prices jumping after US authorities said the Coast Guard was pursuing another sanctioned oil tanker in the Caribbean.Before the opening bell, futures for the S&P 500 were up 0.4 ...

Key Takeaways November CPI rose 2.7% year over year, below expectations, easing pressure on Federal Reserve policy meeting.AS expects 21.5% earnings growth next year, with current-year earnings estimates up 10.7% in the past 60 days.ROKU's current-year earnings growth tops 100%, and its earnings estimates jumped 83.3% over the past 60 days.The Federal Reserve cut interest rates in December but signaled only one rate cut in 2026, given that inflation remains high. However, a soft inflation reading for Novemb ...

Group 1 - The Federal Reserve faces risks of economic recession unless interest rates are lowered further next year, according to Stephen Miran, a member of the Federal Reserve Board [2] - Miran has noted that the necessity for a significant rate cut of 50 basis points has diminished, although he still advocates for a more accommodative policy stance due to rising unemployment [2] - Since September, the Federal Reserve has implemented three rate cuts totaling 75 basis points, and the need for another large cut may be less urgent as the Fed approaches a phase of more precise management of monetary policy [2] Group 2 - This month, the Federal Reserve reduced interest rates by 25 basis points, but there is significant disagreement among officials regarding future policy directions, with most expecting only one more rate cut next year [3] - Concerns about inflation persist, as the current inflation rate remains nearly 1 percentage point above the 2% target, while rising unemployment raises fears of a significantly weakened job market [3]

Core Insights - The broader equity markets experienced a mini recovery, ending a four-day losing streak, driven by cooling inflation and strong performances from key blue-chip stocks [1][2] - The November consumer price index report indicated an annual inflation increase of 2.7%, lower than the expected 3.1%, while core consumer price inflation was at 2.6%, compared to a forecast of 3% [1] Investment Opportunities - Investors are encouraged to focus on "cash cow" stocks with high return on equity (ROE) to maximize returns, as high ROE indicates effective reinvestment of cash [2][3] - TE Connectivity plc (TEL), ZTO Express (Cayman) Inc. (ZTO), Pilgrim's Pride Corporation (PPC), Assurant, Inc. (AIZ), and Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc. (HST) are highlighted as stocks with high ROE and favorable efficiency scores [2][7] Financial Metrics - ROE is defined as Net Income divided by Shareholders' Equity, serving as a key indicator of a company's profitability and financial health [3] - A higher ROE signifies better management efficiency in generating profits without new equity capital [4] Screening Parameters - Stocks were screened based on criteria including cash flow greater than $1 billion, ROE greater than the industry average, price/cash flow ratio lower than the industry average, return on assets (ROA) greater than the industry average, and a 5-year EPS historical growth greater than the industry average [5][6][7] - Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy) was also considered, indicating stocks likely to outperform the market [7] Company Profiles - **TE Connectivity**: A global technology company focused on connectivity and sensor solutions, with a long-term earnings growth expectation of 12.3% and a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 6.5% [8][9] - **ZTO Express**: A leading express delivery service in China, with a Zacks Rank of 1 and a long-term earnings growth expectation of 3.1% [10][11] - **Pilgrim's Pride**: Engaged in the production and distribution of chicken products, with a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 10.4% and a Zacks Rank of 2 [11][12] - **Assurant**: A provider of risk management solutions, with a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 22.7% and a Zacks Rank of 2 [12][13] - **Host Hotels**: A leading lodging REIT with a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 11% and a Zacks Rank of 2 [14][15]

Core Viewpoint - Gold prices are experiencing upward momentum due to economic and geopolitical factors, with analysts anticipating further rate cuts from the Federal Reserve, which makes gold more attractive compared to yield-bearing assets [2][3]. Group 1: Current Gold Prices - Gold futures opened at $4,369.90 per troy ounce, slightly down from the previous closing price of $4,387.30, which was a record high since October [1]. - The price of gold reached $4,444 during early trading [1]. - The one-year gain for gold as of December 19 was 69% [3]. Group 2: Price Changes Over Time - The opening price of gold futures was 0.4% lower than the previous Friday's close [3]. - Over the past week, gold prices increased by 1.4%, by 8.4% over the past month, and by 67.7% over the past year [8]. Group 3: Factors Influencing Gold Prices - Economic and geopolitical conditions, including U.S.-Venezuelan tensions and anticipated Federal Reserve rate cuts, are significant drivers of gold prices [2]. - Key factors affecting gold prices include geopolitical events, central bank buying trends, inflation, interest rates, and mining production [11].

Joining us now, Ed Yardeni, president of Yardi Research. What a year. We can start looking back at it.Um, all of the uh liberation day angst turned into >> a buying opportunity. Did >> indeed >> obviously >> we hear the this is the worst economy that the world has ever seen, although the stock market keeps hitting new highs. Correct.So, I don't >> Well, I mean, we we've had the most widely anticipated recession of all times. This didn't happen. I mean, how many years has it been now.>> Yeah. >> And the econ ...

Easing UK inflation is putting extra money in consumers’ pockets ahead of Christmas, with last-minute shopping also boosting footfall https://t.co/P9T3CSBBow ...

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images Moneywise and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue through links in the content below. Amid October headlines about the government shutdown, the IRS made a significant announcement without much fanfare: new tax brackets that will impact every taxpayer in the country (1). Changes to brackets aren’t new. They’re adjusted upwards every year to account for inflation, using the Consumer Price Index (CPI) as a guide. Must Read This can be helpful if your wages are ...

Core Insights - Money market accounts (MMAs) are highlighted as a favorable option for storing cash due to their relatively high interest rates and liquidity [1] - MMAs typically offer better returns than traditional savings accounts and may include check-writing privileges and debit card access, making them suitable for long-term savings with easy access [2] Interest Rates Overview - Despite a general decline in rates over recent months, some MMAs still offer rates exceeding 4% APY [3] - Historical fluctuations in MMA rates are largely attributed to changes in the Federal Reserve's target interest rate [4] - Following the 2008 financial crisis, MMA rates were low, averaging between 0.10% to 0.50% due to the Fed's near-zero federal funds rate [5] - The COVID-19 pandemic prompted another drop in MMA rates as the Fed cut rates to combat economic fallout [6] - Starting in 2022, aggressive interest rate hikes by the Fed led to historically high deposit rates, with many MMAs offering rates of 4% or higher by late 2023 [7] - As of 2025, MMA rates remain elevated compared to historical standards but are on a downward trend following recent Fed rate cuts [8] Considerations for Choosing MMAs - When selecting a money market account, factors beyond interest rates, such as minimum balance requirements, fees, and withdrawal limits, should be considered [9] - Some MMAs may require a minimum balance of $5,000 or more to earn the highest advertised rates, and monthly maintenance fees can reduce interest earnings [10] - There are competitive MMAs available without balance requirements or fees, emphasizing the importance of comparing options [10] - It is crucial to ensure that the chosen account is insured by the FDIC or NCUA, which protects deposits up to $250,000 per institution, per depositor [11] Current Market Rates - The national average interest rate for money market accounts is currently 0.58%, while the best rates are around 4% to 4.50% APY, comparable to high-yield savings accounts [12] - For example, depositing $50,000 in an MMA with a 4.5% APY would yield approximately $2,303 in interest over one year [13] - Currently, no MMAs offer a 5% APY, but some high-yield savings accounts from online banks do [14]

Stocks looked set to rise in thin trading on Monday, while gold jumped to yet another record as the market bet on a strong end to 2026 for both equities and precious metals.Futures tracking the Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 63 points, or 0.1%. S&P 500 futures added 0.4%, and contracts tied to the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 gained 0.5%.The three major indexes rallied on Friday, meaning that both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq ended the week in the green. Investors had been fretting about lofty artificial-intellige ...