The start of the new year brought mixed results for the stock market.The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 317 points, or 0.7%. The S&P 500 closed up 0.2%. The Nasdaq Composite closed down slightly.The Dow and S&P both snapped their four-day losing streaks, but the Nasdaq couldn't seal the deal. It finished just below breakeven to bring its own skid to five days. The tech-heavy index last fell five days in a row in early 2025. ...

Core Viewpoint - Retail inflows into U.S. stocks are projected to reach a record high in 2025, driven by individual investors who are becoming a significant force in the market rally, which is expected to continue into the next year due to anticipated interest rate cuts [1] Group 1 - Individual investors are increasingly influencing the stock market, contributing to a rally that analysts believe will persist [1] - The expectation of interest rate cuts is a key factor driving this anticipated growth in retail inflows [1]

US stocks, as represented by the benchmark S&P 500 index, are on track to close the year in green. But a so- called "Santa Claus rally†may not show up this year – and that doesn't paint a particularly rosy picture of what's to come in 2026, says Jonathan Krinsky, chief market technician at BTIG. ...

Investing.com -- A chart highlighted by Sevens Report suggests that U.S. stock market gains in December have typically been driven by strength later in the month rather than early trading. The latest Sevens Report states that December has been “one of the stock market’s best months of the year,” citing data from Carson Group’s Ryan Detrick showing the S&P 500 has averaged a 1.4% return over the past 75 years and finished higher 73.3% of the time. That makes December the month with the highest historical ...

Market Performance - The S&P 500 increased by 1.2%, while the Dow rose by 256 points or 0.6%, and the Nasdaq Composite saw a gain of 1.9% [1] - The market is experiencing a rally in riskier stocks, which is beginning to spread into the broader market [1] Market Breadth - Market breadth has turned positive, with 260 S&P 500 stocks now trading higher [2] - The Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF, which serves as a proxy for market breadth, increased by 0.5% [2] Historical Context - Despite the recent rally, November is noted to be the worst month since 2008 for both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq [1]

Core Insights - The U.S. stock market is closed on Thanksgiving Day, November 27, and will close early at 1 p.m. on Black Friday [1] - As of November 21, 2025, the S&P 500 index has gained 12.3% and the Nasdaq Composite index has gained 15.3%, with total returns of 13.6% and 16% respectively, exceeding the long-term historical average of about 10% [1] Market Performance During Thanksgiving Week - Historical analysis indicates that the stock market tends to outperform during Thanksgiving week compared to its annual performance, based on data from the past 10 years [5] - In seven out of the past 10 years, Thanksgiving week performed better than expected relative to the S&P 500's annual performance [7]

Core Viewpoint - The market dynamics have shifted, with AI previously driving US stocks higher for an extended period, irrespective of economic conditions [1] Group 1 - AI had a significant influence on the upward trajectory of US stocks over the past couple of years [1]

Market Overview - Bitcoin fell to a six-month low of $91,545, breaching key support levels, while Ethereum dropped below $3,000, indicating widespread market weakness [1] - Bitcoin lost 3.21% on November 17, down 27% from its October all-time high, and Ethereum fell 4.22% to $2,978, with major altcoins like Solana, XRP, and Cardano experiencing significant declines [2] - The S&P 500 and Nasdaq also saw declines, with the S&P 500 dropping 61.70 points to 6,672.41 and the Nasdaq falling 192.51 points to 22,708.07, both closing below their 50-day moving averages [3] Technical Analysis - A significant technical event occurred as Bitcoin filled the last large CME futures gap near $92,000, which had been open since April 2025, typically indicating a removal of technical overhang [5] - Despite the closure of the CME gap, weak demand may lead to further declines, and the overall technical picture remains fragile [6] - Traders are at a crossroads, with the gap closure reducing immediate risk but ongoing weak price action suggesting potential for further downward movement [7] Economic Indicators - Broader economic signals contributed to market stress, with the Empire State Manufacturing Index rising to 18.7, an increase of 8 points from the previous month, which reduced the likelihood of a Federal Reserve rate cut in December [8] - Market probabilities shifted, with Polymarket indicating a 55% chance of no rate cut and CME Group data suggesting a 60% chance of unchanged policy [9] - Research firm 10X Research noted that new buyer activity stalled around October 10, with the Fed's hawkish signals adding pressure and warning of vulnerability to further liquidations [9]

Core Insights - Penny stock IPOs are experiencing a significant resurgence, with over 90 IPOs in 2024 compared to 77 in the previous year, marking levels not seen since the 1980s [2] - The current market conditions, including commission-free trading apps and a focus on cryptocurrency by regulators, have created an environment conducive for small companies to enter U.S. markets [2][9] - Despite their low price, penny stocks have a poor track record, typically losing 60% of their value over three years and underperforming the broader market by approximately 90 percentage points [3] Group 1: Market Dynamics - The rise in penny stock IPOs is attributed to factors such as low interest rates, stimulus checks, and the popularity of trading apps like Robinhood, which have made speculative investing more appealing [5] - The SEC defines penny stocks as those trading below $5 per share, which has attracted both legitimate businesses and questionable operators seeking to access U.S. capital markets [6] - Structural issues often plague penny stocks, where an influx of shares can lead to market valuations that exceed the company's realistic support, resulting in price drops [7] Group 2: Historical Context - Penny stocks thrived in the 1980s until stricter Nasdaq listing requirements and SEC regulations effectively curtailed their prevalence [4] - The current wave of penny stocks includes many small companies from China and Hong Kong, often described as small restaurants and obscure manufacturers, rather than established firms like Alibaba [8]

Group 1 - U.S. and China trade talks are ongoing, with both Presidents set to discuss terms [1][2] - A "framework" deal regarding the divestment of Chinese-owned TikTok has been announced, with commercial terms already settled [2] - Asia-Pacific markets are expected to open mostly higher following positive comments from President Trump about the trade negotiations [2] Group 2 - Japan's Nikkei 225 is set to open lower after a holiday, with futures last traded at 44,715 compared to the last close of 44,768.12 [3] - Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index is poised for a higher open, with futures at 26,523 against the last close of 26,446.56 [3] - Australia's ASX/S&P 200 is also expected to open higher, with futures last traded at 8,890 compared to the previous close of 8,853 [3] Group 3 - Major U.S. stock indices closed higher, with the S&P 500 rising 0.5% to 6,615.28, marking its first close above 6,600 [4] - The Nasdaq Composite reached a new all-time high, increasing 0.9% to 22,348.75 [4] - The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 49.23 points, or 0.1%, ending at 45,883.45 [4]