It was scary because the U.S. stock market plunged to several historic drops on worries about everything from President Donald Trump's tariffs to interest rates to a possible bubble in artificial-intelligence technology. In the end, though, it was a great year for anyone with the stomach to stick through the swings.S&P 500 index funds, which sit at the heart of many savers' 401(k) accounts, returned more than 18% in 2025 through Dec. 11 and set a record high that day. It's their third straight year of big r ...

Consumer Confidence and Economic Outlook - Consumer confidence data for December came in at 89.1%, below the expected 91, but higher than November's reading, which was the second lowest since the pandemic [6][8] - The current conditions index has significantly declined, indicating consumers are feeling worse about their financial situation, with a notable drop into negative territory for the first time in four years [11][12] - A slowdown in economic growth is expected going into 2026, influenced by high inflation and tariffs impacting consumer prices [14][19] Restaurant Industry Trends - The restaurant industry is experiencing a shift, with a 10% move away from dining out towards grocery shopping due to high prices, particularly in the QSR burger segment, which has seen over 50% price increases since 2019 [44][45] - Domino's Pizza is identified as a top pick for 2026, having only increased prices by about 27% since 2019, making it more affordable compared to QSR burger chains [47][48] - The value meal strategy is becoming crucial as QSR chains like McDonald's aim to regain lost customers by suppressing check growth to align with grocery inflation [51] Venture Capital and AI Investment - In 2025, 40% of deals and 65% of capital invested were in AI companies, indicating a strong focus on AI across various sectors, including life sciences and fintech [79][80] - The investment environment for AI companies is expected to remain robust in 2026, with a quality gap emerging where only companies meeting high growth benchmarks will attract significant funding [82][83] - The IPO landscape is anticipated to be favorable for sectors like crypto and AI, with companies like Circle benefiting from regulatory support [84][86] Tax Implications for Consumers - The child tax credit has been increased by $200, and a new $6,000 deduction for seniors will be available, providing some tax relief for families in 2026 [21][25] - Tariffs are estimated to cost US households an average of $1,100 in 2025, expected to rise to $1,400 in 2026, impacting consumer spending and sentiment [27][29] - Despite tax cuts, the burden of tariffs may lead consumers to feel worse off, as the perception of affordability is affected by rising prices [40][42] Future of Circle and Economic Infrastructure - Circle's CEO envisions the company playing a significant role in the future economic infrastructure, focusing on AI-driven productivity gains and the frictionless exchange of value [70][72] - The company aims to be foundational to a new economic system that integrates AI and enhances global economic prosperity through innovative financial solutions [75][76]

Joining us now here at Post9 is John Lvalo, senior US home building and building products equity research analyst at UBS. Uh John, any any thoughts on kind of what we could see from this this big new plan that could impact affordability. >> Thanks Leslie.Yeah, so I think there's a few things. It could be short-term, intermediate, and then housing emergency. In the short term, we could utilize the GSC's to subsidize mortgages, to buy more NBS for their portfolio, and to reduce G fees.G fees could be 60 basis ...

With 2025 set to end, investors may hear more about the "Santa Claus indicator," which tracks the last five trading days of a year and the first two trading days of a new year. A leading market expert tells Benzinga the indicator is fun, but the real story to follow in 2026 is the Supreme Court ruling on tariffs.Santa Claus IndicatorFreedom Capital Markets Chief Market Strategist Jay Woods told Benzinga the Santa Claus indicator is "a fun little indicator" during a recent interview."It's not as important as ...

LATEST: The Trump administration will maintain zero-percent tariffs on Chinese semiconductor imports until June 2027, according to the USTR. ...

The US accused China of engaging in unfair trade practices in the semiconductor sector, but is declining to impose additional tariffs on chip imports until at least mid-2027 https://t.co/ulhrlBs3g7 ...

The Canadian economy continues to display resilience despite US tariffs, with initial estimates showing a small expansion last month. https://t.co/BEqSBxemEw ...

Tariffs and Trade Policy - The administration believes tariffs are not a tax on U S companies but a form of leverage against foreign countries that depend on the U S market [7][8][24] - The administration argues that countries with trade deficits with the U S depend on the U S economy and therefore bear the cost of tariffs by reducing prices [9][25] - The administration asserts that tariffs are a tool to rebalance global trade and bring back manufacturing and supply chains to the U S [19][5][14] - The administration views tariffs as a "beautiful thing" and a "dial for leverage" to negotiate trade deals and address non-tariff barriers [18][20][21] - The administration claims that tariffs have not caused inflation and are bringing investment into the U S [11][26] Manufacturing and Supply Chains - The administration acknowledges that bringing back manufacturing and supply chains takes time, similar to the time it took for China to build its manufacturing base [4][13][14] - The administration aims to bring back both factories and supply chains to the U S, emphasizing the national security aspects of domestic production [5][14] - The administration suggests that construction jobs will come first, followed by manufacturing jobs, as investment increases [6] Economic Outlook - The speaker expressed optimism about the economy, predicting the Dow Jones Industrial Average would reach 50,000 [16] - The administration is focusing on reducing inflation by addressing key areas such as housing, healthcare, and food [17] - The administration anticipates a great year in 2026, with tariffs playing a significant role in bringing investment [17][18]

Group 1 - Oracle's co-founder Larry Ellison has provided a guarantee for Paramount's bid for Warner Bros, indicating strong support for the acquisition [1] - The offshore wind industry faces challenges as former President Trump has dealt another blow to its growth prospects, impacting future investments [1] - FanDuel has launched a new prediction market, expanding its offerings in the sports betting sector and potentially increasing user engagement [1]

NEW YORK (AP) — It was a scary good year for investors. It was scary because the U.S. stock market plunged to several historic drops on worries about everything from President Donald Trump’s tariffs to interest rates to a possible bubble in artificial-intelligence technology. In the end, though, it was a great year for anyone with the stomach to stick through the swings. S&P 500 index funds, which sit at the heart of many savers’ 401(k) accounts, returned more than 18% in 2025 through Dec. 11 and set a ...