mezzotint / Shutterstock.com Quick Read Stocks took another beating on Wednesday amid concerns over the AI/Data Center trade. While inflation appears somewhat contained, any spike in the headline number today could send markets lower. Hopes for the “Santa Claus Rally” are diminishing as we enter the home stretch for 2025. If you’re thinking about retiring or know someone who is, there are three quick questions causing many Americans to realize they can retire earlier than expected. take 5 minutes ...

Thinkstock Quick Read The rotation trade had another run on Wall Street Monday, as tech stocks led the selling once again. While the move away from the AI/Data center trade has gained some strength, the reality is that with a likely third year of double-digit gains for the S&P 500, year-end profit taking is also coming in. With a slew of economic data set to come in this week, volatility could rise even  further. If you’re thinking about retiring or know someone who is, there are three quick quest ...

The US oil benchmark fell to its lowest level since February 2021, with traders weighing renewed signs of optimism surrounding a deal to end the war in Ukraine and mixed economic data from China. West Texas Intermediate settled below $57 a barrel in thin trading ahead of the Christmas and New Year holidays, sliding as stocks wavered. US negotiators offered more substantial security guarantees to Kyiv in a renewed bid to clinch a deal, though the effort still appeared part of a bid to pressure Ukrainian Pr ...

Chaay_Tee / iStock via Getty Images Quick Read Stocks were hit hard on Friday as the rotation out of the Artificial Intelligence trade continued. Many on Wall Street remain leery of the huge debt being piled up by technology companies. Oracle’s missing expectations are being viewed as the potential tipping point for the AI/Data Center trade. A recent study identified one single habit that doubled Americans’ retirement savings and moved retirement from dream, to reality. Read more here. Pre-Mar ...

Bloomberg Oil prices edged down in choppy trading, with US crude falling to the lowest since May, as weakness in US equities markets added to bearish sentiment about oversupply. West Texas Intermediate settled below $58 a barrel, the lowest since May, while global benchmark Brent slumped to the weakest in about two months. Diesel futures, which were down about 1.4%, were the biggest drag on the oil complex on Friday, while a selloff in US stocks compounded declines. Most Read from Bloomberg Thin tradi ...

Thinkstock Quick Read With just over two weeks remaining in 2025, we could see the third straight year of double-digit gains for the S&P 500. All of the major indices including the Russell 2000 are at or near all-time highs. Expect a Santa Claus rally to end the year, as Portfolio Managers add some of the top stocks to their holdings in a “window dressing” move. If you’re thinking about retiring or know someone who is, there are three quick questions causing many Americans to realize they can reti ...

Chaay_Tee / iStock via Getty Images Quick Read As expected, the Federal Reserve cut the Funds rate 25 basis points on Wednesday. The rate cut lowered the Fed funds rate to 3.50%-3.75%, the lowest since the post-pandemic era in 2022. Rates could stay in place for some time unless we see some economic turmoil. With a new Fed Chairman coming next year that POV could change in 2026. If you’re thinking about retiring or know someone who is, there are three quick questions causing many Americans to real ...

Federal Reserve and Interest Rates - The Federal Reserve is expected to announce a 25-basis-point rate hike during its last meeting of 2025, with concerns about a potential "hawkish rate cut" that could affect future cuts [2][5] - Traders are focused on the implications of sticky inflation and a slowly improving job outlook, which may influence the tone of Chairman Powell's commentary [5] Stock Market Performance - Major indices showed mixed results, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average down 0.38% at 47,560, the S&P 500 flat at 6,840, and the Nasdaq up 0.13% at 23,576 [2] Treasury Bonds - Treasury yields were mixed, with a strong demand for a $58 billion auction of 3-year notes, indicating a good appetite for shorter-term debt [3] - The 30-year bond yield finished at 4.81%, while the benchmark 10-year note was at 4.19% [3] Oil and Gas Market - Oil prices continued to decline due to abundant supplies and expectations of slowing demand, with Brent Crude at $62.05 (down 0.70%) and West Texas Intermediate at $58.35 (down 0.90%) [4] - Iraq's restoration of production at the West Qurna 2 oilfield added approximately 460,000 barrels per day to global supply, impacting market dynamics [4] - Natural gas prices fell significantly, closing at $4.56, down 7.21% due to profit-taking and weather-related factors [4]

Core Viewpoint - Oil prices experienced the largest two-day drop in a month due to ongoing concerns about global oversupply [1] Group 1: Price Movements - Brent crude traded around $62 per barrel after a 3% decline over the previous two sessions, while West Texas Intermediate was above $58 [2] - Crude prices have been confined within a tight $4 range since the beginning of November, influenced by oversupply concerns and geopolitical risks related to Russian oil flows [5] Group 2: Supply Dynamics - The US is projected to reach a record domestic crude production of 13.6 million barrels per day this year, contributing to the oversupply in the global market [2] - The American Petroleum Institute reported a decrease in US crude inventories by 4.8 million barrels last week, although there were significant increases in fuel stockpiles, including gasoline and distillates [4] Group 3: Market Sentiment - Ole Hansen from Saxo Bank expressed surprise at the lack of attempts to push Brent prices below $62, indicating a contrarian view amid negative news [3] - The upcoming reports from the International Energy Agency and OPEC are anticipated to provide further insights into the market outlook [5]

An oil pumpjack stands in a barren landscape at sunset, with long pipelines running across the ground and an illuminated refinery visible in the distance. Key Points The EIA forecasts oil prices will fall over 20% by the end of 2026 due to a sustained global supply surplus. The Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (NYSEARCA: XLE), heavily weighted in ExxonMobil, Chevron, and ConocoPhillips, faces continued underperformance. Institutional sentiment is tepid, with high short interest and nearly equal numbers of ...