Key Takeaways It was a rollercoaster of a year on Wall Street. Most experts think the ride isn't over. The S&P 500 is on track to post its third consecutive year of double-digit gains, putting the benchmark index up more than 90% since the current bull market started in October 2022. Strategists expect 2026 to be another good—if more modestly so—year for the stock market. As of mid-December, the average 2026 year-end S&P 500 price target was 7,269, according to an LPL Financial analysis. That implies about ...

Group 1 - The AI trade is transitioning into a more selective phase, moving away from the initial rush for compute power towards a focus on efficiency, optimization, and system design [1] - Astera Labs emphasizes a multidisciplinary approach to identify high-conviction, asymmetric risk-reward investment opportunities in the technology sector [1] - The strategy incorporates financial analysis, behavioral finance, psychology, social sciences, and alternative metrics to uncover breakout opportunities before they gain mainstream attention [1] Group 2 - The company aims to navigate market sentiment and identify emerging trends by analyzing investor behavior and psychological biases that create persistent inefficiencies [1] - It focuses on evaluating opportunities based on their risk/reward profile, seeking limited downside and explosive upside potential [1] - The process includes deep research and signals that others may overlook, such as shifts in narrative, early social traction, and underappreciated momentum in user adoption [1]

MSCI Inc.’s gauge of Asia Pacific equities rose 0.3% early on Tuesday after an index of global stocks set a fresh closing record. Japan’s Topix climbed 0.5%. US index futures were up slightly, while gold added to its gains after finishing at an all-time high.The upbeat mood in the US session helped the S&P 500 erase December losses and put it on course for an eighth straight month of gains, which would mark the longest winning run since 2018. Tesla Inc. and Nvidia Corp. led megacaps higher. “Everything is ...

I said we're we're going to investigate the key questions for stocks in 2026 which we've listed as such and I I think you'll agree and we'll debate whether we've missed some of them or there are more pressing questions too. Can the AI trade get beyond the bubble banter. That's number one.Is the broadening trend durable. Right. That's what we're hearing a lot about.And can the rally one run without rate cuts. Critical questions, Joe. Um are those the three most pressing questions.Did we leave something out. ...

I said we're we're going to investigate the key questions for stocks in 2026 which we've listed as such and I I think you'll agree and we'll debate whether we've missed some of them or there are more pressing questions too. Can the AI trade get beyond the bubble banter. That's number one.Is the broadening trend durable. Right. That's what we're hearing a lot about.And can the rally one run without rate cuts. Critical questions, Joe. Um are those the three most pressing questions.Did we leave something out. ...

Let's bring in Kevin Green, senior market correspondent, right away to help set up the action today. All right, KG. So, you were paying attention to the flows on Friday.Did it land how you expected. >> Uh, a little bit uh reversed. We actually saw a pretty nice gain to the upside as the market opened and then we consolidated in about a 15 point range pretty much throughout the close here.But I think it does set us up well for this week where we have uh let's say a lack of data to say the least here, especia ...

The brokerage firm has also highlighted RIL, SBI and The report outlines that Indian equities delivered a mixed performance in 2025, with the Nifty 50 gaining 10.2% to end the year at 26,326. However, broader markets lagged, as the Nifty 500 rose only 6.4%, while the Nifty Smallcap 250 declined 6.4%.Despite global headwinds such as foreign capital outflows, currency volatility, and geopolitical uncertainty, Axis Securities believes India's domestic economic fundamentals have remained notably resilient, pro ...

Group 1 - The AI trade is showing signs of losing momentum as 2025 comes to a close, with investors becoming less confident in companies like Oracle to deliver profitable results [1] - Gary Alexander, with extensive experience in technology and startups, has been actively contributing insights on industry trends since 2017 [1]

In this article, we will look at the 12 Most Widely Held Stocks by Hedge Funds in 2025.On December 17, Lori Calvasina, RBC Capital Markets head of U.S. equity strategy research, appeared on CNBC’s ‘Squawk Box’ to talk about expectations from markets and earnings in the coming year.She expects 2026 to be a good year, and added that she wishes the 5% drawdown we experienced a month or so ago had been a little more substantial to remove more froth, as there is still “a lot of angst” out there. Despite the need ...

Core Insights - Oracle's relationship with OpenAI has raised market concerns reminiscent of past vendor-financing practices, leading to questions about its financial health and data center expansion capabilities [1][3][10] Financial Performance - The December quarterly release was mixed, with Oracle missing revenue and margin expectations while raising capital expenditure outlook, resulting in a negative stock reaction [2] - Oracle's capital expenditure for fiscal year 2025 reached $21.2 billion, a significant increase from $6.7 billion in fiscal year 2024, while generating $20.8 billion in free cash flow, indicating a free cash flow negative situation [4] - For fiscal year 2026, Oracle's capex budget is projected at $50 billion, approximately double the expected operating cash flows, suggesting continued reliance on debt markets for funding [4] Debt and Financial Health - Oracle's long-term debt as a share of total capital is a key indicator of its financial flexibility, although it currently holds an investment-grade credit rating of BBB, the lowest tier of investment-grade ratings [7][5] - The company's Remaining Performance Obligations (RPO) reached $523 billion, with a significant portion attributed to OpenAI, highlighting customer concentration risk and its impact on stock performance [11][12] Market Position and Valuation - Oracle's stock valuation has fluctuated significantly over the past decade, currently trading at an 18% discount to Microsoft shares, despite its emerging role in the AI sector [17][18] - The narrative surrounding Oracle's financial health and its relationship with OpenAI has overshadowed broader AI market concerns, indicating a unique set of challenges for the company [10][12] Tech Sector Outlook - The tech sector, including Oracle, is expected to continue driving earnings growth, with the Mag 7 group projected to see 16.9% earnings growth on 16.4% higher revenues in Q4 2025 [30][35] - Positive estimate revisions for the tech sector have been consistent, contributing to overall earnings growth expectations for the S&P 500 index [21][24]