Market Overview - US stock market saw a slight rise on Monday, with technology stocks leading the gains. Traders are closely monitoring political developments in Washington and preparing for a key earnings week and Federal Reserve monetary policy meeting [1][11] - The Dow Jones increased by 144.89 points (0.30%) to 49,243.60, the Nasdaq rose by 175.97 points (0.75%) to 23,677.21, and the S&P 500 gained 41.23 points (0.60%) to 6,956.84 [3][13] Gold Prices - Gold prices surged past $5,100 per ounce, driven by deepening geopolitical tensions and a weakening dollar, prompting investors to seek safe-haven assets [3][14] Earnings Reports - Over 90 S&P 500 companies are set to report quarterly earnings this week, including major players like Apple, Meta Platforms, and Microsoft. Current earnings season shows strong performance, with 76% of companies that have reported exceeding expectations [4][14] - Despite strong earnings, some stocks like Intel and Netflix have experienced declines [15] Federal Reserve Meeting - The Federal Reserve is expected to announce its first policy decision of the year on Wednesday, with the market anticipating that the overnight interest rate will remain unchanged. However, traders are looking for clues regarding when the Fed might consider lowering rates [7][16] Technology Sector - Major tech companies, including Microsoft, Meta Platforms, and Tesla, will report earnings this week. The narrative around the "Big Tech" stocks has shifted, with investors now pursuing cyclical stocks, small-cap stocks, and international market momentum [8][17] - The storage products industry is entering a "super cycle," with major players like SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics also set to report earnings [17] Economic Data - The Chicago Fed National Activity Index for November reported at -0.04, an improvement from -0.42 in October, indicating a slight positive contribution from production-related indicators [9][18] - Durable goods orders in the US increased by 5.3% in November, the largest gain in six months, driven by orders for commercial aircraft and other capital goods [10][19]