Bitcoin slipped to around $85,200 on Friday as Asian stocks steadied after a tech-led bounce on Wall Street, and traders turned their attention to Japan, where a Bank of Japan rate move later in the day could jolt currencies and bonds. The mood improved after a shock slowdown in US consumer price inflation to 2.7%, although analysts cautioned the reading looked clearly distorted lower by the government shutdown and should not be taken at face value. Market snapshot Bitcoin: $85,811, down 1% Ether: $2, ...

Joining us now for a look at what is happening globally, Victor Schvetzet, a head of global desk of strategy McQuary Capital. Uh, very good morning to you, Victor. Thanks so much for joining me once again today.Uh, look, obviously it's been a very busy morning on the macro front with what we've heard out with regards to the inflation picture here, but let's shift our attention to obviously what we've heard out of the Bank of England and the ECB this morning. No surprises there, although maybe the Bank of En ...

Consumer Spending and Market Dynamics - The recent consumer spending data indicates a potential beginning of a Santa Claus rally, with the Dow advancing 66 points and the NASDAQ surging 1.38% [2] - Consumer spending, which constitutes two-thirds of the economy, has shown signs of improvement, particularly as inflation rates decline [4][8] - Retail performance has been mixed, with Walmart performing well due to its strategy of keeping prices low, while other retailers like Nike are struggling [3][11] Inflation Trends - The core Consumer Price Index (CPI) has fallen to a four-year low, suggesting that inflation may have peaked and is starting to decline positively [8][9] - Various costs, including gasoline and used car prices, are decreasing, which could enhance consumer spending power [9][10] - Home prices are also reportedly coming down, with some average selling prices now below 2019 levels [10] Technology Sector Insights - The technology sector has faced skepticism regarding unlimited data spending, particularly with Oracle raising $18 billion for data center buildouts [5][6] - OpenAI is attempting to raise $100 billion at an increased valuation of $830 billion, which could support aggressive data center expansion and positively impact stocks like Nvidia and Broadcom [6][7] - The market has shown a broadening rally beyond tech, with significant gains in financials and autos, indicating a shift in investor sentiment [16][22] Retail Sector Performance - Retail stocks have seen positive movements, with companies like Darden, Texas Roadhouse, and Target reporting gains [12] - Amazon's e-commerce platform remains a significant contributor to its overall performance, despite the focus on Amazon Web Services [13] - The overall retail sector is poised for growth, coinciding with the holiday season and improving consumer sentiment [16]

Benzinga and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below. Mortgage rates are unlikely to plunge after this week's Federal Reserve meeting, but borrowers could see a slow, uneven drift lower rather than an immediate break, economists and housing forecasters say. Fed Rate Cut Largely Priced Into Markets The Fed is widely expected to deliver a quarter-point cut at its Dec. 9-10 meeting, with futures markets putting the odds near 90% according to Reuters, which woul ...

Market Overview - Australian shares have increased by +0.5% in futures, marking the first rise this week, influenced by positive trends in Wall Street [1] - The U.S. economic data showed core consumer prices rising by 2.6% in November, while overall CPI increased by 2.7%, impacting Federal Reserve's rate cut plans [2] U.S. Market Performance - The Dow Jones rose by +0.1%, the S&P 500 increased by +0.8%, and the Nasdaq composite surged by +1.4%, breaking a four-day losing streak [3] Central Bank Actions - Japan's central bank is expected to raise rates to 0.75%, contrasting with the Federal Reserve's easing plans, which may influence the Reserve Bank of Australia [4] Company News - Meg O'Neill has been appointed as the first female CEO of BP, leaving her position at Woodside Energy, which saw its shares drop by -2.7% following the announcement [5] - ANZ Group may retain executive pay despite shareholder dissatisfaction over compliance failures, indicating potential negotiations for a middle ground [6] - Boss Energy's shares plummeted by -24% after a negative update on uranium extraction, indicating lower grade and more challenging extraction processes [7] - Amaero Ltd secured a $4.6 million order for refractory powder from Titomic as part of a five-year partnership, with shipments expected in Q3 and Q4 FY26 [7] Commodity Prices - The Australian dollar is trading at 66.1 U.S. cents - Iron Ore prices increased by +1.3% to $105 per tonne, while Brent Crude remained stable at $59.72 per barrel, and Gold is priced at $4,333 per ounce [9]

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Visa now allows certain partner banks and fintechs to settle their obligations to Visa in USDC, rather than traditional bank transfers. Settling means “squaring the tab” at the end of the day between banks, card issuers, and Visa. Instead of waiting on slow, expensive bank wires, they can send USDC on-chain, and now they can do that on Solana, a fast, low-fee blockchain built for high transaction throughput.First, a quick definition. A stablecoin is a crypto token that tracks a real-world asset, usually the ...

European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde said Thursday the central bank has completed its technical and preparatory work on the digital euro and that it is now up to political institutions to act. The project, which aims to create a public digital means of payment, is under review by the European Council and the European Parliament. Her remarks came during the ECB’s final press conference of the year, where policymakers left the eurozone’s key interest rates unchanged. Lagarde reaffirmed the ECB ...

Core Insights - Investing in stocks based on valuation metrics, particularly the price-to-sales (P/S) ratio, can identify opportunities with strong upside potential, especially for unprofitable or early-stage growth companies [1][2] Valuation Metrics - The P/S ratio compares a company's market capitalization to its revenues, providing a clearer picture of value when earnings are minimal or volatile [2][5] - A P/S ratio below 1 indicates a good bargain, as investors pay less than a dollar for each dollar of revenue generated [6] - The P/S ratio is preferred over the price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio because sales are harder to manipulate than earnings [7] Investment Opportunities - Low P/S stocks can offer compelling opportunities, often trading below their intrinsic value, making them attractive for investors seeking upside potential [3] - Companies with low P/S ratios and improving fundamentals are highlighted as having discounted valuations [10] Screening Parameters - Stocks should have a P/S ratio less than the median for their industry, a P/E ratio below the industry median, and a debt-to-equity ratio lower than the industry median [9][11] - Stocks must trade at a minimum price of $5 and have a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy) to qualify for investment consideration [12] Company Profiles - **Hamilton Insurance Group, Ltd. (HG)**: A specialty insurance and reinsurance company benefiting from strong execution and a clear growth roadmap, with gross premiums written rising significantly [12][13] - **Macy's Inc. (M)**: Undergoing a transformation with its Bold New Chapter program, focusing on digital initiatives and omnichannel retailing, currently holding a Value Score of A and Zacks Rank 2 [14][15] - **GIII Apparel Group (GIII)**: A designer and distributor of apparel focusing on product differentiation and international expansion, with owned brands generating higher margins [16][17] - **Green Dot (GDOT)**: A pro-consumer bank holding company with a strong position in prepaid cards and Banking-as-a-Service, expanding its addressable market with low debt and significant cash reserves [18][20] - **PRA Group (PRAA)**: A global financial services company focusing on non-performing loans, benefiting from strategic acquisitions and a positive purchasing environment [21][22]

Generative AI dominated narratives in 2025, but the financial payoff hasn't kept pace with the hype. JPMorgan's 2026 outlook, backed by new CEO survey data, suggests markets are now recalibrating expectations — shifting focus from AI adoption to whether it actually delivers profits. GenAI Fell Short Of CEO Expectations PwC's latest global CEO survey, covering more than 4,700 executives across 109 countries, shows a clear expectation gap. While over 40% of CEOs entered 2025 expecting GenAI to boost revenu ...