Market Performance - US stock futures dipped early Wednesday, with Dow Jones, S&P 500, and Nasdaq all slipping around 0.2% [1] - The S&P 500 is up over 17% this year, marking its sixth year of 15%-plus gains in the last seven years [2] - The Nasdaq Composite has risen over 20%, while the Dow is up over 13% [2] Challenges Faced - The Nasdaq briefly entered a bear market over eight months ago, and the S&P was close to entering one after significant tariffs were imposed by President Trump [3] - Despite challenges, including tariff concerns and geopolitical developments, the market rebounded, driven by AI-fueled valuations [3] Future Outlook - Wall Street forecasters predict a continued stock rally for a fourth consecutive year in 2026, although risks such as a potential falter in the AI boom and economic surprises remain [4] - The Federal Reserve's interest rate path is a key focus, with expectations that the Fed will maintain current rates in January [5]