Stocks rise with tech boost, yen weakens after Japan rate hike

Stocks rise with tech boost, yen weakens after Japan rate hike

By Sinéad Carew and Iain Withers

Fri December 19, 2025 4:45 PM

I’ve been out all day and all night so this will be a very truncated reported. Basically, it was a good with 3-digit gains all around. Basically it was a good day with Micron euphoria spilling into a second day. AI is seen in a favorable light again. U of M consumer sentiment came in below estimates but above November’s. Per the CBOE, volume came in at a whopping 26.6 billion, way above the 16.9 average, suggesting this might have been another triple-witching day. 

DJ: 47,951.85  +65.88         NAS: 23,006.36  +313.04        S&P: 6,774.76  +53.33        12/18

DJ: 48,134.89  +183.04       NAS: 23,307.62  +301.26        S&P: 6,834.50  +59.74        12/19

Fri 12-19-25 4:45 pm Stocks rise with tech boost, yen weakens after Japan rate hike | Reuters

Wall St closes higher fueled by tech rally, soft inflation data

Wall St closes higher fueled by tech rally, soft inflation data

By Abigail Summerville and Johann M Cherian

Thu December 18, 2025 4:52 PM  

Today tech did quite well with a handsome 3-digit lead on the Nasdaq, all from AI once again become the darling of Wall Street. If all they needed was a small positive sign, that came today with Micron signaling a blowout forecast. The chip index climbed 2.6%. Adding to the momentum was the CPI report showing prices increased less than expected, thus encouraging the hopes for more rate cuts starting in March.  

Wall Street closes lower as AI funding jitters drag tech stocks

Wall Street closes lower as AI funding jitters drag tech stocks

By Abigail Summerville and Johann M Cherian

Wed December 17, 2025 4:34 PM  

Yet again AI anxiety has swept the markets as for the fourth day major 3-digit drops have plagued the indexes. Major players have seen their share prices plunge, a behemoth like Amazon announcing a major $10B investment while giant Oracle suffered when announcing a major AI investor has pulled out. All in all, the entire chip index fell, even champions Nvidia and Broadcom.  

Wall St ends mixed, healthcare and energy stocks weigh on S&P

Wall St ends mixed, healthcare and energy stocks weigh on S&P

By Abigail Summerville and Johann M Cherian

Tue December 16, 2025 4:31 PM  

The Dow and S&P spent most of the day deeply in the red, the Dow down almost 500 points by 1 pm, before recovering to much more modest losses by close. The Nasdaq did better, actually making it into gains by late afternoon, with flat unemployment considered sufficient cause to raise the odds to two rate cuts in 2026 despite Fed statements of only one. As usual, any news promoting more rate cuts bolsters tech and transfers money out of industrials.  

Wall St closes lower as investors position for busy week of data

Wall St closes lower as investors position for busy week of data

By Abigail Summerville and Johann M Cherian

December 15, 2025  4:33 PM ESTUpdated 59 mins ago

After Friday’s modest correction after a series of record-breaking days, the indexes continued moving modestly lower again on Monday as investors sit on the fence awaiting a slew of data coming later this week with more labor reports as well as retail sales, business activity and inflation. With the record breakers being mostly due to AI fever and the correction on Friday being mostly due to renewed fears of a possible coming AI bubble in the wake of the fever pitch, the markets have returned to caution until more reports surface.  

Wall Street ends lower; fears of AI bubble and inflation send investors away

Wall Street ends lower; fears of AI bubble and inflation send investors away

By Sinéad Carew and Johann M Cherian

Fri December 12, 2025 4:41 PM  

After reaching record heights on Wednesday and Thursday, the indexes took a dip on Friday when the Fed dissenters to Wednesday cut came out front and center again with their pronounced reservations that the cut was not necessary and will likely create more inflation. This combined with both Oracle and Broadcom turning in depressed forecasts sent both stocks down and the overall Nasdaq and S&P on resumed fears of an AI bubble. Oracle alone lost more than 15% of its value in the last two days.  

Dow, S&P 500 mark record closes; Oracle drags on the Nasdaq

Dow, S&P 500 mark record closes; Oracle drags on the Nasdaq

By Sinéad Carew and Johann M Cherian

Thu December 11, 2025 5:00 PM  

On the day following the Fed rate cut announcement and pleased by the less hawkish tone than feared, the market picked up tailwinds that pushed the S&P and Dow up, the Dow straight way up 646 points. Investors were leaning heavily on Powell’s encouraging remarks putting the labor market as a priority over inflation as an indication that more cuts would be coming next year. Disappointing news from Oracle stoked more fears of overinvestment in AI but those fears were somewhat abated by Disney’s announcement of another $1 billion investment in AI.  

Wall Street indexes rally after Fed cuts interest rates

Wall Street indexes rally after Fed cuts interest rates

By Sinéad Carew and Johann M Cherian

Wed December 10, 2025 4:48 PM  

The indexes were all pretty close to flat running all the way up to the Fed announcement, then zoomed up immediately upon the news that there was indeed going to be a ¼ point cut. Though there remained significant concerns about policy direction in 2026, the fact that commentary about no more rate cuts until further notice due to inflation all took an immediate backseat when Powell commented that the labor market remains down and he doesn’t want Fed policy to stifle that.  

S&P 500 ends slightly down as investors await Fed rate decision

S&P 500 ends slightly down as investors await Fed rate decision

By Sinéad Carew and Johann M Cherian

Tue December 9, 2025 4:52 PM

Despite all the division within the Fed, optimism is still very high for a rate cut on Wednesday but doubts have grown that there will be more cuts coming in 2026. Thus the indexes were way up in the morning, the Dow up over 200, but then everything started sliding at the noon hour with both the Dow and the S&P losing all their gains and then quite a bit besides. Even with the rate cut, sentiment says that Fed comments will be more hawkish than desired with warnings that prices may well continue upward again because of the cut.  

US stocks end lower as investors wait for Fed rate decision

US stocks end lower as investors wait for Fed rate decision

By Sinéad Carew and Johann M Cherian

Mon December 8, 2025 4:47 PM  

Anxiety is high over a deeply divided Fed concerning Wednesday’s announcement on rates and the nervousness sent the whole market down all day long, the Dow down 3-digits again, all hedging bets in case the outcome is negative. Despite this, odds of a ¼ point cut still stand at a whopping 89%. But what investors are really counting on is not so much the ¼ point cut in two days but a lot more clues about future policy moves, something they feel has been sorely lacking.  

Wall St closes with slight gains as data keeps Fed cut expectations on track

Wall St closes with slight gains as data keeps Fed cut expectations on track

By Chuck Mikolajczak

Fri December 5, 2025 4:25 PM  

PCE came in right on target so gave the markets a modest bump. Commerce Dept data showed consumer spending also increasing right in line with forecasts. The problem is that all this data is still old, August and September, so still considered unreliable. The U of M Consumer Sentiment Survey also improved and even topped estimates. Even though there are still a large number of Fed officials opposed to a rate cut due to inflation concerns, the market consensus for a cut next Wednesday stands today at 87.2%, up from 30% two weeks ago. For the week, all three indexes climbed modestly and that makes two weeks in a row of gains. At 16.2 billion, volume still remains over more than a billion shares shy of the 17.72 average. 

DJ: 47,850.94  -31.96        NAS: 23,505.14  +51.04        S&P: 6,857.12  +7.40              12/4

DJ: 47,954.99  +104.05     NAS: 23,578.13  +72.99        S&P: 6,870.40  +13.28            12/5

Fri 12-5-25 4:25 pm Wall St advances as data keeps Fed cut expectations on track | Reuters

Indexes end near flat, supported by Fed hopes but dragged by Amazon

Indexes end near flat, supported by Fed hopes but dragged by Amazon

By Chuck Mikolajczak

Thu December 4, 2025 4:24 PM  

The markets were more or less flat today due to the continued lack of government data. But the data that is coming from private sources shows a mixed picture with, on the one hand, unemployment falling but, on the other hand, probably due to temporary holiday hiring. Today’s Commerce Dept data shows factory orders continuing to shrink due to tariffs but, overall, good news for the rate cut crowd. Powell remains modestly hawkish but the overall sentiment is that a cut is coming this month.  

Indexes close higher as data keeps Fed rate cut expectations elevated

Indexes close higher as data keeps Fed rate cut expectations elevated

By Chuck Mikolajczak

Wed December 3, 2025 4:27 PM

Today’s reports showed private payrolls unexpectedly declined and the service sectors remaining static, all  of which boosted optimism for a December rate cut, today up to 89% odds, more evidence of a shrinking labor market and weakening economy, and thus boosted all three indexes straight up for the entire session, the Dow to another impressive mid-3-digit gain. Of course, the real test comes Friday with the Personal Expenditures, the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge. Compounding the problem is the fact that October and November  employment data has been delayed until after the Fed’s announcement. Volume continues to be well below the 18.19 billion average, coming in today at just 15.44 billion. 

DJ: 47,474.46  +185.13        NAS: 23,413.67  +137.75       S&P: 6,829.37  +16.74        12/2

DJ: 47,882.90  +408.44        NAS: 23,454.09  +40.42         S&P: 6,849.72   +20.35        12/3

 

Equities rise on Fed rate cut optimism, Boeing jumps

Equities rise on Fed rate cut optimism, Boeing jumps

By Chuck Mikolajczak

Tue December 2, 2025 4:22 PM

It was a herky-jerky day on all three indexes as the market jumped up and down but at least never went into the red and gave us our seven straight up days with only one (yesterday) in the red. The lack of current government data and everyone on the fence waiting for a widely expected rate cut has contributed to today’s volatility.  

Wall Street ends lower as yields climb; crypto stocks drop

Wall Street ends lower as yields climb; crypto stocks drop

By Chuck Mikolajczak

Mon December 1, 2025 4:24 PM

After all the wonderful gains last week, investors went into cautious mode today with all three showing losses, the Dow in 3-digits. All the incoming data continues to point to a weakening economy with the only good news being the new optimism over a December rate cut. This optimism has also been bolstered by the recent strong speculation that the anticipated replacement for Powell will be dovish with more rate cuts coming in the coming year.  Volume was again well below the 18.6 billion average, coming in today at a mere 15.6 billion. 

 

DJ:          47,716.42  +289.30                 NAS:       23,365.69  +151.00                 S&P:       6,849.09  +36.48                     11/28

DJ:          47,289.33  -427.09                  NAS:       23,275.92  -89.76                    S&P:       6,812.63  -36.46                      12/1