Market Overview - U.S. equities faced a downturn on December 29, 2025, as investors engaged in profit-taking during a holiday-shortened week, leading to declines in major market indexes, particularly in technology stocks, while the energy sector showed resilience [1] - The S&P 500 was down approximately 0.5% but remains up more than 1% for the year, on track for its eighth consecutive monthly gain [2] - The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell around 249 points, or 0.5%, marking a notable departure from the "Santa Claus rally" seen earlier in December [2] - The Nasdaq Composite declined by about 0.6%, reflecting the pressure on technology shares [2] Sector Performance - Technology shares, a primary driver of market gains throughout 2025, were among the heaviest weights on the market, indicating growing skepticism about the valuation of investments in artificial intelligence [3] - The Energy Sector outperformed other industries, with shares up approximately 1%, driven by a 2.3% increase in U.S. benchmark crude oil prices to US$58.08 per barrel [4] - Major oil companies like Exxon Mobil saw their shares rise by 1.5%, while the Materials Sector was the worst performer, down 1.1% [4] Upcoming Market Events - Investors are awaiting the release of the FOMC Meeting Minutes on December 30, 2025, for insights into the Federal Reserve's monetary policy stance following a recent interest rate cut [5] - U.S. initial jobless claims data will be released on December 31, 2025, and the U.S. manufacturing PMI for December is due on January 2, 2026 [5] - A potential U.S. partial government shutdown looms, with funding set to expire on January 30, 2026, which could introduce trade-related volatility [5] Individual Stock Movements - Nvidia shares pulled back by 1.6% to 1.7% despite a prior rise after licensing AI chip technology from Groq, reflecting profit-taking in the tech sector [9] - Tesla stock was down 2.6%, while Target Corporation shares climbed 3.1% following reports of a significant hedge fund stake [9] - Coupang, Inc. shares surged 6.5% after resolving a cyber issue, while American Airlines Group Inc. experienced a 1.5% decline due to winter storm concerns [9] - Micron Technology was the best-performing stock in the S&P 500, with shares up approximately 2.5% [9] - DigitalBridge Group saw a significant jump of 10% after being acquired by SoftBank for $4 billion [9]

U.S. Stock market today: U.S. stocks started the final week of 2025 on a weaker note, with major indexes slipping as selling pressure hit megacap technology names and precious metals pulled back sharply from record highs. Investors entered the last three trading sessions of the year cautious but still positioned for what is shaping up to be a strong annual finish for Wall Street. The Despite the daily slip, the broader market remains on track for a robust yearly performance. The S&P 500 has climbed over 17% ...

Bankruptcy Trends - Corporate bankruptcies in the US have reached levels not seen since the Great Recession, with at least 717 companies filing for bankruptcy through November 2025, marking a 14% increase from the previous year and the highest total since 2010 [1] Affected Companies - Notable bankruptcies include pharmacy chain Rite Aid, genetics testing firm 23andMe, fast-casual dining spot Hooters, and no-frills carrier Spirit Airlines [2] Driving Factors - The surge in bankruptcies is attributed to a combination of persistent cost pressures, tight credit conditions, and aggressive trade policies that have increased the price of imported materials and disrupted global supply chains [3][11] - Industrial companies are experiencing the most significant distress, a shift from previous years when consumer retailers dominated bankruptcy filings [4] Sector Analysis - Manufacturers, construction firms, and transportation providers now represent the largest share of new bankruptcy filings, contrasting with recent trends where consumer-facing companies were more prevalent [4] - The manufacturing sector lost over 70,000 jobs in the year ending in November, despite claims that tariff strategies would boost domestic production [4] Consumer Behavior - Consumer-facing companies selling discretionary goods are also facing increased bankruptcy filings, indicating that inflation is causing Americans to reduce nonessential spending [8] - Retailers in sectors like fashion and home décor are particularly vulnerable as consumers prioritize essential expenses [8] Bankruptcy Types - The filings include both Chapter 11 reorganizations, which allow companies to restructure while operating, and Chapter 7 liquidations, which typically result in shutdowns and asset sales [9] Mega Bankruptcies - There has been a notable increase in "mega bankruptcies," with 17 companies having more than $1 billion in assets filing for bankruptcy in the first half of 2025, the highest in any six-month period since the COVID-19 crisis [10] Tariff Impact - Tariffs on steel, components, and energy-related equipment have severely impacted manufacturers and suppliers, with effective tariff rates on imported solar cells and panels rising to about 20% from less than 5% in prior years [15] - Smaller companies are particularly strained by these tariffs, which have led to significant cash flow issues [16] Specific Company Cases - Solar installer PosiGen filed for Chapter 11 in November due to the rollback of federal clean-energy incentives and new tariffs on imported solar equipment [12] - Electric truck maker Nikola filed for Chapter 11 in February after struggling with production scaling and costs related to a battery recall, alongside facing a $125 million civil penalty from the SEC [17]

Another intense winter storm system stretching from the upper Midwest to the Northeast will once again test US airlines during the busy holiday travel period.Service is still trying to recover from days of disruption that led to more than 3,600 cancelled flights between Dec. 26 and Dec. 28. Another 30,000 flights failed to depart or arrive on schedule over that timeframe, FlightAware data shows. As of 10:00 a.m. New York time Monday, more than 500 US flights on Monday are canceled and another 2,000-plus are ...

China's Spring Airlines and Juneyao Airlines on Monday announced plans to buy 30 and 25 Airbus A320-family jets respectively, according to stock exchange filings. ...

Market Performance - Major indexes, including the S&P 500, achieved gains during the holiday-shortened trading period, with the S&P 500 reaching new all-time highs [1][6] - Each of the three major indexes rose more than 1% last week, marking their fourth positive week in the last five [6] Airline Industry - A significant winter storm caused thousands of flight cancellations and delays in the Northeast U.S. during a busy holiday travel period, with over 50 million expected to fly [2][3] - Major airlines, including American, Delta, United, Southwest, and JetBlue, waived change fees for travelers affected by the storm, provided they travel by the end of the year [3] Technology Sector - Nvidia's acquisition of Groq's top talent is being described as a "non-exclusive licensing agreement," potentially to avoid antitrust issues [9][10] - This agreement is noted to be Nvidia's largest acquisition on record, highlighting the company's significant size and influence in the tech industry [10] Restaurant Industry - Fast-food chains like McDonald's and Taco Bell are focusing on value offerings to attract price-conscious consumers, with McDonald's extending its $5 value meal [11][12] - In contrast, fast-casual restaurants like Chipotle and Cava are avoiding discounting strategies and focusing on quality instead [12]

Listen on the go! A daily podcast of Wall Street Breakfast will be available by 8:00 a.m. on Seeking Alpha, iTunes, Spotify.Getty Images Good morning. The latest in trending on Seeking Alpha:New law: New York is requiring mental health warning labels on social media platforms to address a youth crisis.Activist pressure? Target (TGT) might be in the hot seat after Toms Capital Investment Management took a stake in the retailer.Record rally: Here are the best silver plays right now, according to SA analysts, ...

Market Overview - The Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE) experienced a rise on the last day of Sunday trading, with the Tel Aviv 35 Index increasing by 0.43% to 3,618.80 points, and the Tel Aviv 125 Index rising by 0.56% to 3,647.25 points [1] - The BlueTech Global Index rose by 0.93% to 624.09 points, while the All Bond corporate bond index increased by 0.05% to 420.08 points [1] - Total turnover reached NIS 2.14 billion in equities and NIS 2.22 billion in bonds [1] Currency Exchange Rates - The representative shekel-dollar rate was set 0.157% lower at NIS 3.186/$, and the shekel-euro rate was set 0.242% lower at NIS 3.757/€ [2] Top Gainers - Bezeq Israel Telecommunications Company Ltd. saw the largest increase on the Tel Aviv 35 Index, rising by 3.19% [3] - Other notable gainers included Elbit Systems Ltd. with a rise of 2.15%, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. increasing by 1.20%, Melisron Ltd. up by 2.39%, NewMed Energy rising by 2.27%, and Camtek increasing by 1.89% [3] Top Losers - YH Dimri Construction and Development experienced the largest decline on the Tel Aviv 35 Index, falling by 2.95% [4] - Other significant declines included Shufersal Ltd. down by 2.34%, Migdal Insurance and Financial Holdings down by 2.57%, and Bank Hapoalim leading the market with a fall of 0.85% [4] - Mizrahi Tefahot Bank fell by 1.05%, and Bank Leumi decreased by 0.61% [4] - Outside the Tel Aviv 35 Index, El Al Israel Airlines Ltd. fell by 2.22% [4]

Core Insights - Capital One Miles are recognized as a valuable transferable rewards currency, ranking just behind American Express Membership Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards [26] - The best redemption strategy for Capital One Miles is to transfer them to airline and hotel partners, maximizing their value [27] Group 1: Capital One Miles Overview - Capital One offers a variety of rewards cards with a straightforward redemption system for earned miles [1] - The Capital One Venture X Business Card provides at least 2x miles on all purchases and includes premium perks [4][6] - A limited-time offer allows users to earn up to 400,000 bonus miles based on spending thresholds within the first six months [5][11] Group 2: Earning and Redeeming Capital One Miles - The most effective way to earn Capital One Miles is by applying for new credit cards and meeting minimum spending requirements [2] - Capital One Miles can be redeemed for various options, including statement credits, gift cards, and travel bookings through Capital One Travel [27] - Transferring miles to partners like Air Canada Aeroplan, Air France-KLM Flying Blue, and Japan Airlines Mileage Bank can yield significant value [43] Group 3: Key Transfer Partners - Air Canada Aeroplan is highlighted for its value and flexibility, allowing for numerous airline partnerships and a favorable stopover policy [29][30][33] - Air France-KLM Flying Blue offers dynamic pricing and promotional rewards that can provide substantial savings on award tickets [35][38] - Japan Airlines Mileage Bank features region-based award charts and excellent redemption rates, particularly for premium cabins [40][41]

The closest airport to Washington, D.C., Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) is in Arlington County, Virginia, 5 miles from the U.S. capital. It sends planes to over 110 destinations and is one of the busiest airports in the country, serving nearly 13 million passengers in 2024.Reagan National, often simply referred to as National or DCA by locals, is mandated by the federal government to serve only short-haul flights, with long-haul flights for D.C. reserved for Washington Dulles International ...