US Markets Wrap

The Dow surged more than 490 points after the Federal Reserve delivered its third consecutive rate cut, bringing the federal funds rate to 3.5%-3.75%. The S&P 500 flirted with record highs, and the Nasdaq climbed as traders digested the Fed’s message. What signals are investors reading from Jerome Powell’s remarks, and what does this mean for equity markets heading into 2026? Ben Emons, Chief Investment Officer at FedWatch Advisors, breaks down the market reaction, Fed policy implications, and strategies for the year ahead. Produced/Presented: Ryan Huang

Wall Street held steady ahead of the Fed’s final rate decision of the year, with the S&P 500 flat, the Nasdaq inching higher, and the Dow dragged lower by bank-sector weakness. Beneath the calm surface, big forces are shaping 2025 investor strategy, from AI’s massive but delayed physical buildout to the inflationary impact of data center demand and the demographic pressures pushing advanced economies toward automation. Alex Morris, CEO of F/m Investments explains how investors should position across cash, equities, and fixed income as the Fed navigates diverging inflation and labor signals. Produced/Presented: Ryan Huang

U.S. stocks pulled back on Monday as investors await the Federal Reserve’s final meeting of the year, with the S&P 500, Nasdaq, and Dow all closing lower. Despite rising optimism for an upcoming rate cut, Treasury yields continued to climb, keeping markets on edge. Todd Rabold, Investment Management Partner, Callan Family Office shares his outlook on economic growth, and the sectors poised to benefit in 2026. Plus, we touch on ongoing tariff debates, tech exports, and which areas of the market could outperform as the new year unfolds. Produced/Presented: Ryan Huang

José Torres, Senior Economist, Interactive Brokers, analyses the unexpected fall in private payrolls numbers for November and the consequential impacts for risk assets and Fed rate cuts; the factors driving the divergence between small-business job cuts and hiring at mid-size and large firms; whether there's any weight to Big Short investor Michael Burry's comments about the AI market bubble unwinding within the next two years; and how investors should position themselves in the current environment.     Produced & Presented by Emaad Akhtar

Stocks stumbled as December opened, with a sharp drop in Bitcoin dragging risk sentiment lower.  Christine Short, Vice President of Research, Wall Street Horizon discusses what this bout of volatility really means. We explore whether the pullback marks a brief pause in the broader bull run or hints at deeper pressure on growth assets, why rising yields are clashing with expectations for Fed rate cuts, and how weakening manufacturing data fits into the macro picture. She also breaks down the surprising strength of holiday spending despite record-low consumer sentiment and highlights the key inflation and jobs data in the weeks ahead that will determine whether this downturn becomes a buying opportunity or the start of a broader correction. Produced/Presented: Ryan Huang Image: Gino Crescoli from Pixabay 

As markets eye a potential year-end grind higher, driven by rising confidence in coming rate cuts, Shane Oliver, Chief Economist & Head of Investment Strategy, AMP Capital unpacks what this shifting macro backdrop really means for investors. The conversation dives into the rotation toward healthcare and consumer names and why these sectors are seeing renewed attention as growth broadens out. We also tackle the big question on many portfolios: what should investors do if they are still heavily weighted in mega-cap tech?

Phan Vee Leung, CIO of TrackRecord unpacks the market’s fourth straight day of gains as the Dow, S&P 500 and Nasdaq all push higher ahead of the Thanksgiving break. Tech once again steals the spotlight, with Oracle rallying on renewed bullish conviction, Nvidia rebounding from its recent dip, and Microsoft extending its climb - fueling a broader narrative around AI-driven market strength. He also explores the steady uptrend in gold and what it signals for investors navigating an evolving macro landscape. Image: Pexels from Pixabay

U.S. markets staged a strong turnaround on Tuesday, as traders digested expectations of a December Fed rate cut and the evolving AI trade. Laila Pence, President of Pence Wealth Management, shares her perspective on what drove the latest market session, why she remains positive despite headline volatility, and what investors should watch as 2025 draws to a close.

Stocks surged Monday, led by tech giants like Alphabet, as markets recovered from a shaky start to November. The Nasdaq posted its biggest gain since May, fueled by renewed optimism in AI, from Google’s Gemini 3 upgrade to strong moves in Broadcom, Micron, AMD, and Palantir. Ryan Detrick, Chief Market Strategist at Carson Group, breaks down whether this rally signals renewed conviction in the AI trade or is simply a relief bounce, explores how shifting Fed rate expectations are influencing sentiment, and weighs the risks of volatility during thin holiday trading. Plus, he previews key economic data this week, including retail sales and producer prices, and what it could mean for the market heading into December. Produced/Presented: Ryan Huang Image: Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

Stocks fell on Thursday after a market-wide rally fizzled, with Nvidia’s early gains reversing and investor hopes for a December Fed rate cut fading. The Dow dropped 387 points, the S&P 500 shed 1.6%, and the Nasdaq fell 2.2%, despite a midday surge. Frank Cappelleri, Founder and President, CappThesis discusses Nvidia’s surprising reversal, the ripple effects on the broader market, and whether the chip giant is a buy amid AI hype. We also dissect the latest jobs data, Walmart’s earnings, and Ray Dalio’s warning signs of a potential market bubble. Produced/Presented: Ryan Huang