Economic Indicators - The minutes from the December Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting will provide insights into the Fed's economic outlook ahead of its next meeting in late January [4] - Weekly jobless claims report is expected to highlight the labor market, with the U.S. economy likely losing an average of 20,000 jobs per month between April and September [4] - Pending home sales data for November will indicate future sales levels in a housing market facing affordability challenges [5] Market Trends - The first trading session of 2026 is anticipated to follow a year where major stock indexes closed higher by double digits after a recovery from an April downturn [2] - Analysts predict another volatile year for stocks, with strong trading in December and January potentially setting the tone for investors [2] Upcoming Events - Key economic reports scheduled for the week include pending home sales on Monday, the S&P Case-Shiller home price index on Tuesday, and initial jobless claims on Wednesday [5][9] - Bond markets will close early at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, while stock markets will operate normally on New Year's Eve [1]

Core Insights - Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies experienced a slight rise following the Federal Reserve's final interest rate cut of the year, which was a reduction of 0.25% [1][2] - Fed Chair Jerome Powell indicated that future interest rate decisions may be complicated due to conflicting economic data, emphasizing that inflation remains high and the labor market has softened [2][4] - Analysts noted that markets had already anticipated the interest rate cut, and cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum saw minor fluctuations in response to Powell's comments [3][6] Cryptocurrency Market Reactions - Bitcoin rose slightly by over 1% after Powell's comments but later retraced those gains, trading at approximately $93,703 [3] - Ethereum also saw a minor increase, trading around $3,357, up nearly 2% [3] - XRP fluctuated, priced slightly over $2 during the same period [3] Federal Reserve's Position - The Federal Reserve has been divided on interest rate policies, with some members advocating for looser monetary policy [1][4] - Powell's term is set to expire in May, and there is speculation about potential changes in leadership and policy direction depending on political developments [4][5] Market Conditions and Future Outlook - The cryptocurrency market is expected to remain stable until May 2026 unless a bearish catalyst emerges [5] - Bitcoin's price has been affected by various factors, including political instability and liquidity issues in the digital asset markets [5][6] - Historically, cryptocurrencies have performed well in low-interest rate environments, and traders are banking on continued rate cuts to support digital asset prices [6][7]

Key Points Shiba Inu's standing as a top speculative asset for investors and traders to play shifts in market sentiment is well known. Today's compelling intraday move Shiba Inu may suggest that speculators are banking on a less-hawkish cut than many expected. That's what the underlying data suggest, at least in terms of liquidations and large transactions over the past day. 10 stocks we like better than Shiba Inu › Meme coin Shiba Inu (CRYPTO: SHIB) has posted another green day ahead of a highly ...

Market Overview - The Nasdaq Composite Index fell 2.2%, while the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average decreased by 1.6% and 0.8%, respectively, due to weak global markets and concerns over AI stock valuations [1][6] - India's equity indices declined by 0.5%, with the NSE Nifty closing at 26,068 and the BSE Sensex at 85,231, despite gains of 0.6% and 0.8% for the week [6][7] Economic Indicators - The US jobs report indicated a lower probability of an interest rate cut, contributing to negative market sentiment [1][6] - India's Volatility Index increased by 12.3% to 13.62, reflecting heightened risk perception among traders [3][6] Sector Performance - The Nifty Metal index dropped by 2.3%, while the Nifty Realty and Nifty PSU Bank indices fell by 1.9% and 1.4%, respectively [4][6] - The Bank Nifty decreased by 0.8%, and the Nifty Financial Services index fell by 1.1% [4][6] Profit Booking and Market Sentiment - Profit booking occurred after a positive trend in the previous weeks, exacerbated by the rupee hitting all-time lows [4][6] - Analysts are awaiting clarity on the US-India trade deal, which is seen as a significant hurdle for market movement [4][5][6] Future Outlook - If there is a delay in the US-India trade deal, a profit booking of 2-3% is anticipated, potentially bringing Nifty down to 25,500 levels [5][6] - Despite current declines, the Nifty is expected to reach new highs if it sustains above 26,000 [6][7] - The pessimism regarding the US-India trade deal is already factored into prices, suggesting a potential for positive surprises [5][7] Trading Activity - Foreign portfolio investors sold shares worth ₹1,766 crore, while domestic investors purchased shares worth ₹3,161 crore [7]

European stocks hovered near record levels on Monday, driven by optimism about easing U.S.-China trade tensions. Traders also looked ahead to a busy week of central bank announcements that includes rate decisions from the Federal Reserve, European Central Bank and the Bank of Japan.The U.S. central bank is widely expected to cut rates by 25 basis points, while the ECB and BOJ are expected to leave rates unchanged.On the earnings front, mega companies, including Apple Inc. and Microsoft Corp. while be unvei ...