Company Insights - Weyerhaeuser is a timber company that has seen a decline of approximately 20% this year, mirroring the drop in timber prices [7] - The company is the largest timber holder in the United States, with the value of its timber exceeding the current market value of the company itself [7] - Weyerhaeuser's profits are significantly tied to new home building, which has been affected by rising interest rates [8] Market Outlook - The potential for Federal Reserve rate cuts is viewed as crucial for the market rally in the upcoming year, as these cuts could enhance liquidity in the housing market [5][9] - A cautious optimism exists regarding the likelihood of rate cuts, which could improve the outlook for the home building sector and, consequently, for timber demand [8][9] - The company offers a 4% dividend yield, indicating a favorable investment opportunity with significant upside potential [8]

U.S. stock markets are set for a holiday-shortened trading session on Wednesday, December 24, 2025, as investors brace for an early close at 1:00 PM ET for equities and 2:00 PM ET for bond markets in observance of Christmas Eve. Despite a strong performance in the previous session, premarket trading activity indicates a cautious start, with major index futures showing slight declines.Premarket Snapshot: Futures Edge LowerAs the truncated trading day begins, U.S. stock futures are largely flat to slightly do ...

The Commerce Department said gross domestic product increased at a 4.3% annualized rate in the third quarter, the fastest pace since the third quarter of 2023 and well above the 3.3% estimate of economists polled by Reuters, fueled by robust consumer spending. While the data was delayed ‌due to the 43-day ‌government shutdown and many analysts expected the fourth quarter would show a slower pace of economic growth, markets are now pricing in a smaller chance of a January rate cut from the Federal Reserve, ...

Market Overview - US stock futures stabilized after the S&P 500 reached a record high, indicating a positive sentiment heading into the Christmas holiday [1] - Precious metals, particularly gold, surged to an all-time high above $4,500 per ounce, driven by rising tensions in Venezuela and expectations for further US rate cuts [2] - The S&P 500 closed above 6,900, marking a fourth consecutive day of gains, contributing to hopes for a "Santa Claus" rally [2] Economic Data - The US GDP growth for Q3 was reported at 4.3%, significantly exceeding forecasts, with strong consumer spending noted [3] - Despite the positive GDP data, economists caution that such growth may not persist into the fourth quarter, especially amid ongoing government shutdowns [4] - Consumer confidence has declined to its lowest level since the implementation of tariffs by President Trump, indicating a negative sentiment towards the economy [4] Federal Reserve Expectations - Following the GDP report, investor expectations for a January rate cut by the Federal Reserve have decreased, with only 13% anticipating such a move [5] - However, the majority of traders still foresee two rate cuts by the end of the next year, reflecting ongoing divisions within the central bank [5] - President Trump expressed his desire for the new Fed chair to lower rates even in a strong market, indicating potential future policy shifts [5][6] Company News - UiPath Inc. stock rose by 7% after the announcement of its inclusion in the S&P MidCap 400 index, highlighting positive market reception for the software company [6]

Market Performance - US stocks experienced an upward trend in midday trading, with the S&P 500 reaching a record high above 6,900, indicating a positive sentiment heading into the Christmas holiday [1][2] - The Dow Jones Industrial Average led the gains, increasing by 0.5%, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite rose by 0.3% and nearly 0.2%, respectively [1] Economic Indicators - The US GDP growth for the third quarter was reported at 4.3%, significantly higher than forecasts, driven by strong consumer spending [3] - Unemployment claims decreased for the second consecutive week, suggesting a nominally improving economy, although consumer confidence remains weak [5] Federal Reserve Outlook - The GDP data has led to a reduction in expectations for a January rate cut by the Federal Reserve, with only slightly more than 13% of traders anticipating this outcome [4] - Despite the current outlook, most traders still expect two rate cuts by the end of next year, reflecting ongoing divisions within the Federal Reserve [4] Commodity Market - Precious metals saw significant gains, with gold reaching an all-time high above $4,500 per ounce, while silver also advanced to a record [6] - In contrast, platinum experienced a decline of over 3% [6] - Oil prices stabilized after a recent increase [6] Company-Specific News - Intel managed to limit its losses to around 1% after reports indicated that Nvidia had halted a test involving Intel's fabrication process for advanced chips [6]

US stocks wavered at the start of trading on Wednesday morning after the benchmark S&P 500 (^GSPC) hit its latest record on Tuesday, setting up Wall Street to ride into the Christmas holiday on a high note. The S&P 500 (^GSPC) held flat and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) slipped just under the flatline, even as the blue chip-focused Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) gained roughly 0.1% in the minutes after the opening bell. Meanwhile, precious metals powered ahead on Wednesday, with gold (GC= ...

In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 79.73 points at 48,442.41. The S&P 500 index gained 31.30 points at 6,909.79, while the Nasdaq composite rose 133.01 points at 23,561.84. The S&P 500 surpassed the record set earlier in December.Brent Joyce, chief investment strategist at BMO Private Wealth, said it appears markets are seeing a Santa Claus rally heading into the end of the year.“It is an odd phenomenon that we get leading into the last few days, heading into the holidays that markets are ...

Group 1 - The S&P 500 achieved its 38th record close of the year, rising nearly 0.5% to surpass its previous high on December 11 [1] - The Dow Jones Industrial Average increased by 82 points, or 0.2%, while the Nasdaq rose by 0.6% [1] - The upcoming Santa Claus rally period is expected to begin, historically seeing major indexes rise more than 70% of the time during this timeframe [2]

If you enjoyed this, consider Ian's Insider Corner to enjoy access to similar initiation reports for all the new stocks that we buy. Membership also includes an active chat room, weekly updates, and my responses to your questions.The stock market has been enjoying a solid run into the holidays, and there's a decent chance that the so-called Santa Claus rally could keep running until the end of the year.Ian Bezek is a former hedge fund analyst at Kerrisdale Capital. He has spent the decade living in Latin Am ...

Core Viewpoint - The "Santa Claus rally" is a significant market phenomenon that occurs during the last five trading days of the year and the first two of the new year, historically leading to positive market performance [1][2]. Group 1: Historical Performance - Since 1928, the Standard & Poor's 500 has averaged a 1.6% gain during the last five trading days of the year, with a slightly lower average gain of 1.3% since 1950 [3]. - Historical data indicates that even in years when the S&P 500 had a negative performance earlier in December, the Santa Claus rally occurred more than three-quarters of the time, specifically in 20 out of 26 years [5]. Group 2: Theories Behind the Rally - Theories explaining the Santa Claus rally include tax-loss selling followed by reinvestment, seasonal optimism, increased holiday shopping, and reduced institutional trading due to holiday schedules [4]. - A decline in stock prices during the last five trading days is interpreted as investor caution regarding the upcoming year [4]. Group 3: Current Market Sentiment - There is ongoing debate on Wall Street regarding the likelihood of a Santa Claus rally in 2025, with some analysts expressing skepticism about its occurrence [6].