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iShares Russell 2000 ETF

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The Fund seeks to track the investment results of the Russell 2000 Index; the Underlying Index, which measures the performance of the small-capitalization sector of the U.S. equity market, as defined by FTSE Russell; the Index Provider or Russell.

Insmed Inc

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Santa Claus Rally

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SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust

The yield on the 10-year Treasury bond hit a 7-month high on Friday. Is this bond vigilantes&#39; warning and is ‘Santa Rally&#39; taking a pause?

Bond Vigilantes Send &#39;Loud Warning Message&#39; As Treasuries Climb To May Highs: Is The Santa Rally In &#39;Serious Doubt&#39;? Here&#39;s What Analysts Say

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KULR

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Wall Street turned volatile Friday as four days of gains give way to fresh selling pressure driven by investor uncertainty over the incoming Trump administration’s economic policies and the Federal Reserve’s path forward.

Stocks Tumble As Traders Rethink Santa Rally, Crude Tops $70, Bitcoin Slips To $94,000: What&#39;s Driving Markets Friday?

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ONEQ

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TRGP

USDU

PowerShares DB US Dollar Index Bullish Fund

XLRE

The year of milestones, 2024, has seen an unperturbed rise in the bull market, we recap 2024&#39;s landmark junctures in the U.S. stock market.

S&amp;P 500 Hits 57 All-Time Highs In Record-Breaking 2024: Magnificent 7 Drive 30% Of Nasdaq&#39;s Surge

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Top 3 Reasons to Invest in This Bond ETF for Stability and Growth

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Wall Street kicked off the Santa Rally season on a positive note, with all major indices and sectors closing higher in a shortened session ahead of the Christmas holiday.

Santa Rally Kicks Off On Wall Street: Stocks Gain, Tesla Soars, Bitcoin Hits $98,000

Palantir, Trump Media, Hims & Hers Health, NXP Semiconductors, And Tesla: Why These 5 Stocks Are On Investors' Radars Today

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SOXX

Tech stocks began Christmas week with positive momentum, as the Nasdaq 100 rose 0.4% on Monday, building on a 0.7% gain from Friday. The index has now recovered nearly half of the losses sustained following the Federal Reserve&#39;s recent policy meeting.



Semiconductors stood out as the top-performing sector:

Tech Stocks Eye Christmas Gains, Microstrategy Tumbles As Bitcoin Dips To $93,000: What&#39;s Driving Markets Monday?

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Risk sentiment returned to Wall Street on Friday, revitalized by softer-than-expected November inflation data leading to a strong market rebound following the selloff triggered by the Federal Reserve’s recent meeting.&lt;

Wall Street Rallies On Soft Inflation Data, Bonds Rebound, Travel Stocks Surge: What&#39;s Driving Markets Friday?

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Markets breathe sigh of relief as Fed&#39;s preferred inflation gauge falls below expectations, tempering concerns after hawkish pivot. Stocks see modest gains.

Market Volatility Halts On Soft Inflation Data, Yet Traders Remain Wary Of Fighting The Fed: 10 ETFs Moving Friday

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The day after a volatile Federal Reserve meeting, Wall Street grappled with the stark reality of Fed Chair Jerome Powell‘s cautious tone on cutting interest rates in 2024.

US Stocks Edge Up, Micron Suffers Worst Day Since March 2020, Bond Yields Surge: What&#39;s Driving Thursday&#39;s  Markets?

Wall Street Bear AI3

The U.S. stock market experienced a severe selloff Wednesday after Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell‘s comments triggered what CNBC’s Jim Cramer described as “incredible panic” in the markets.

Jim Cramer Warns Of &#39;Incredible Panic&#39; As Jerome Powell&#39;s Hawkish Outlook Send Stocks Into Free Fall: &#39;People Throwing Away Good And Bad&#39;

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Major indexes are lower amid year-end trading.

The yield on the 10-year Treasury <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/what-is-a-bond">bonds</a> hit a seven-month high in Friday's session as the stock market fell, led by the ‘magnificent seven' stocks. Is this a warning from the bond vigilantes and will the &#8220;Santa Rally&#8221; take a pause? Here's what analysts are saying.
What Happened: The 10-year Treasury yield hit 4.631% during Friday's session, which was its highest level since May 30, 2024. However, it is currently yielding 4.6% on Monday.
Talking about the spiking yields, Ed Yardeni, the president at Yardeni Research said, "Bond Vigilantes are sending a loud warning message. They aren&#8217;t convinced Donald Trump, the new sheriff coming to town, will maintain fiscal law and order any better than the old sheriff. They are also losing their confidence in Jerome Powell, the deputy in charge of monetary law and order."
As the &#8220;Magnificent 7&#8221; stock led the market lower on Friday, Louis Navellier of Navellier &amp; Associate, in his note said, "The Santa Claus rally is in serious doubt now. It certainly appears to be a bit of profit-taking."
"The bond vigilantes have been pushing the narrative that the Trump tariffs are going to be inflationary, but the reality is that a strong U.S. dollar causes the prices of commodities and imported goods to decline."
Yardeni, mentioned in his note that a pullback in the markets may have already started.
"We still think that the 10-year yield should trade around 4.50% plus/minus 25bps in 2025. But we can&#8217;t rule out a move back up to last year&#8217;s high of 5.00% early next year. That&#8217;s another reason why we expect a stock market pullback/correction that might have started already. The S&amp;P 500 peaked at a record 6090.27 on Dec. 6.&#8221;
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/broad-u-s-equity-etfs/24/12/42717758/chamath-palihapitiya-says-sp-500-index-etfs-need-to-be-fixed-or-they-will-end-in-disaster-here-is-what-the-billionaire-investor-said">Chamath Palihapitiya Says S&amp;P 500 Index ETFs Need To Be &#8216;Fixed&#8217; Or They Will End In &#8216;Disaster&#8217;</a>
Why It Matters: Ryan Detrick, the chief market strategist at Carson Research, highlighted that no other seven-day period except the last seven days of the year is more likely to be higher. This period of &#8220;Santa Rally&#8221; has given positive returns at least 78.4% of the time.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">These next 7 trading days are known as the Santa Claus Rally period. There is no 7 day period more likely to be higher (78.4% of the time) and only two 7 day periods have a better avg return (1.29%). &#x1f385; <a href="https://t.co/40qVwHa1rS">pic.twitter.com/40qVwHa1rS</a>
&mdash; Ryan Detrick, CMT (@RyanDetrick) <a href="https://twitter.com/RyanDetrick/status/1871322312219468049?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 23, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Incoming Treasury Security Scott Bessent will manage the Treasury auctions better than the current Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, said Navellier.
"In the meantime, I suspect that the bond vigilantes are annoying President-elect Trump, so it will be up to incoming Treasury Security Scott Bessent to help push Treasury yields lower." 
Reinstalling confidence among investors Navellier further added that Friday's selloff should not be worrisome and the ‘B team' of traders was getting rid of their inventory before the weekend.
"Investors shouldn&#8217;t worry about the sell-off – it&#8217;s just what we call inventory cleaning. But there is a sell-off today, and if you did want to buy, it's not a bad time to nibble. Normally, we rally going into New Year&#8217;s, and we normally rally in the new year. So, if we don&#8217;t, it means we have to wait until the A team comes back, which will of course be after the New Year&#8217;s holiday," he added.
Despite a Friday <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42711387/wall-streets-santa-rally-at-risk-palantir-dethrones-nvidia-consumer-confidence-pulls-back-this-week-in-the-markets">market</a> decline, 2024 is poised to be a highly successful year for the stock market. The S&amp;P 500 is projected to mirror last year&#8217;s impressive 24% surge, leading to a cumulative two-year gain of 55%, the most robust since 1999. Furthermore, U.S. stocks are significantly outperforming global markets, exhibiting the largest lead since 1997, fueled by the continued strength of the U.S. economy.
Here's a snapshot of the market performance for Friday and the year.
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Index/ETF</td>
<td>Friday</td>
<td>YTD</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>S&amp;P 500 Index</td>
<td>-1.11%</td>
<td>25.89%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>)</td>
<td>-1.05%</td>
<td>25.89%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nasdaq 100</td>
<td>-1.36%</td>
<td>29.79%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Invesco QQQ Trust ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>)</td>
<td>-1.34%</td>
<td>29.78%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dow Jones</td>
<td>-0.77%</td>
<td>13.99%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIA#NYSE">DIA</a>)</td>
<td>-0.74%</td>
<td>14.03%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Rusell 2000</td>
<td>-1.56%</td>
<td>11.52%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IWM#NYSE">IWM</a>)</td>
<td>-1.46%</td>
<td>11.46%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/12/42678014/top-7-blue-chip-stocks-with-the-best-return-potential-going-into-2025">Top 7 Blue-Chip Stocks With The Best Return Potential Going Into 2025</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Bond Vigilantes Send 'Loud Warning Message' As Treasuries Climb To May Highs: Is The Santa Rally In 'Serious Doubt'? Here's What Analysts Say

Wall Street turned volatile Friday as four days of gains give way to fresh selling pressure driven by investor uncertainty over the incoming Trump administration&#8217;s economic policies and the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/federal-reserve">Federal Reserve&#8217;s path forward.</a>
Major indices experienced wide losses by midday trading in New York, nearly erasing prior gains seen earlier this week, clouding the outlook for a Santa Rally.
The tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 tumbled 2%, on track for its second-worst session this month. Both the S&amp;P 500 and the Dow saw notable losses, while small caps underperformed large-cap counterparts.
On the data front, the U.S. goods trade deficit widened to $102.86 billion in November 2024, surpassing expectations of $100.7 billion, as imports jumped 4.5%, according to an advance official estimate.
Treasury yields were little moved but remained elevated, with the long-dated 30-year yield hovering at the highest levels since May. 
In commodities markets, oil emerged by rising 1%, with West Texas Intermediate light crude topping $70 per barrel amid recent declines in in commercial crude inventories.
In cryptocurrency markets Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) dropped 1.7% to $94,000, heading for its second consecutive weekly loss— the first since September.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Friday&#8217;s Performance In Major US Indices, ETFs</h3>
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Major Indices</td>
<td>Price</td>
<td>Chg</td>
<td>1-day %</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dow Jones</td>
<td>42,739.03</td>
<td>-586.77</td>
<td>-1.4%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>S&amp;P 500</td>
<td>5,934.68</td>
<td>-102.91</td>
<td>-1.7%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nasdaq 100</td>
<td>21,326.63</td>
<td>-441.68</td>
<td>-2.0%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Russell 2000</td>
<td>2,226.71</td>
<td>-53.48</td>
<td>-2.3%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Updated at 12:15 p.m. ET</figcaption></figure>
According to&nbsp;<a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent122324&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">Benzinga Pro</a>&nbsp;data:
<ul>
<li>The&nbsp;SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) fell 1.6% to $591.61.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIA#NYSE">DIA</a>)&nbsp;eased 1.2% to $427.96.</li>
<li>The tech-heavy&nbsp;Invesco QQQ Trust Series&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>) tumbled 2.1% to $518.58.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;iShares Russell 2000 ETF&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IWM#NYSE">IWM</a>) fell 2.3% to $220.55.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLE#NYSE">XLE</a>) outperformed, flat for the day; the&nbsp;Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLK#NYSE">XLK</a>) lagged, down 2.4%.</li>
</ul>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Friday Stock Movers</h3>
<ul>
<li>Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) sank 4.8% as investors reassessed its valuation after a 73% year-to-date surge.</li>
<li>Crypto-related stocks pulled back strongly: KULR Technology Group Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KULR#NYSE">KULR</a>) tumbled 7.4%, MicroStrategy Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSTR#NASDAQ">MSTR</a>) slipped 3.6% and Coinbase Global Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COIN#NASDAQ">COIN</a>) fell 3.5%. </li>
<li>Lamb Weston Holdings Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LW#NYSE">LW</a>) gained 3.6% after shareholder Jana Partners added Jeff Delapp to its board nominee slate, signaling a potential board overhaul, according to a Friday regulatory filing.</li>
</ul>
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/travel/24/12/42705878/airline-stocks-outperform-tech-in-2024-holiday-travel-expected-to-see-records-this-year">Airline Stocks Outperform Tech In 2024: Holiday Travel &#8216;Expected To See Records This Year&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>
Photo via Shutterstock.

Stocks Tumble As Traders Rethink Santa Rally, Crude Tops $70, Bitcoin Slips To $94,000: What's Driving Markets Friday?

Major indexes are lower amid weakness in tech stocks.

The year of milestones, 2024, has seen an unperturbed rise in the current bull market, which is nearly <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42430296/carson-researchs-50-year-study-suggests-that-the-26-months-old-bull-market-is-far-from-over">26 months</a> old. It is higher by more than 70% from the mid-October 2022 lows. As we wrap up the year with the possibility of a &#8216;Santa Rally,&#8217; let&#8217;s recap 2024&#8217;s landmark junctures.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Major U.S. Benchmarks Scale Fresh Records</h3>
The S&amp;P 500 Index has made 57 new all-time highs this year, hitting the last one on Dec. 6, 2024. Also, &#8220;2024 would go down as the best election year return ever,&#8221; said Ryan Detrick, the chief market strategist at Carson Research in a note.
&#8220;Going back 50 years, we found five other bull markets that had lasted at least this long and the shortest any of them lasted was five total years. Think of it like a cruise ship — once it gets moving, it can be quite hard to stop,&#8221; added Detrick
While the S&amp;P 500 index was up 25.96% on a year-to-date basis as of Dec. 23 close, the SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) rose by 25.82% in the same period.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average index, on the other hand, hit a record eight 1,000-point milestones this year. It started the year around the 37,000 level and breached the 45,000 level at the beginning of December. It took only seven trading days for the index to go from 44,000 to 45,000, the second fastest 1,000-point milestone ever. Following that the index also saw one of its longest 10-day losing streak, the first ever since 1974.
Dow was up 13.77% year-to-date as of the Dec. 23 close, whereas the SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIA#NYSE">DIA</a>) gained 13.74% in the same period.
The Nasdaq 100 index which includes all the &#8216;magnificent seven&#8217; stocks, unlike Dow, rose 29.98% year-to-date as Dec. 23 close. The ETF tracking the index, Fidelity NASDAQ Composite Index ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ONEQ#NASDAQ">ONEQ</a>) rose by 33.85% in the same period. Whereas, the Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>) rose by 29.88% in 2024.
The smallcap index Russell 2000 was up 11.16% over the year, while iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IWM#NYSE">IWM</a>) was up 10.97% in the same period as of the Dec. 23 close.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/24021350/CHARt-1-INDICES-1024x576.png" alt="" class="wp-image-705432" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/24021350/CHARt-1-INDICES-1024x576.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/24021350/CHARt-1-INDICES-300x169.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/24021350/CHARt-1-INDICES-768x432.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/24021350/CHARt-1-INDICES-1536x864.png 1536w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/24021350/CHARt-1-INDICES.png 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></figure>
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42430296/carson-researchs-50-year-study-suggests-that-the-26-months-old-bull-market-is-far-from-over">Is The 26-Month Bull Market Over? Here Is What Carson Research&#8217;s 50-Year Old Study Tells Us</a>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">U.S. Market Trumps The World</h3>
Among the developed economies, the S&amp;P 500 remains the best index with a 25.96% gain on a year-to-date basis, outperforming all the other developed market indices.
While the <a href="https://x.com/RyanDetrick/status/1871317802306707882">first </a>year of a new president&#8217;s term has usually been strong since 1897, the returns during year one of a second term haven&#8217;t been very good overall, said Detrick.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Returns during year one of a second term haven&#39;t been very good overall, but way better lately. Down 5 in a row, but now up 4 in a row. &#x1f914; <a href="https://t.co/aUrCbf22Gw">pic.twitter.com/aUrCbf22Gw</a>
&mdash; Ryan Detrick, CMT (@RyanDetrick) <a href="https://twitter.com/RyanDetrick/status/1871320275129967103?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 23, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Developed Markets</td>
<td>Indices</td>
<td>YTD Performance</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>United States</td>
<td>S&amp;P 500</td>
<td>25.96%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Germany</td>
<td>DAX</td>
<td>18.36%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Japan</td>
<td>Nikkei 225</td>
<td>17.27%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Hong Kong</td>
<td>Hang Seng</td>
<td>19.71%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Spain</td>
<td>IBEX 35</td>
<td>12.31%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>United Kingdom</td>
<td>FTSE 100</td>
<td>4.94%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Switzerland</td>
<td>Swiss Market</td>
<td>2.85%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>France</td>
<td>CAC 40</td>
<td>-3.43%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<figcaption class="wp-element-caption">(As Of Dec. 23 Close)</figcaption></figure>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Communication, Consumer Discretionary, And Technology Lead Gains In 2024</h3>
Tracking the exchange-traded funds that track the major sectors in the U.S. market, communication services emerged as the top sector for the year, followed by consumer discretionary and technology. The information technology sector has the highest weight of 31.3% in the S&amp;P 500, followed by financials a t13.9%.
BlackRock said that they see technology companies&#8217; earnings performing well in 2025. &#8220;We are overweight as the AI theme and earnings growth broaden. Valuations for AI beneficiaries are supported by tech companies delivering on earnings.&#8221;
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Cyclical Sectors</td>
<td>ETFs</td>
<td>YTD Performance</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Communication Services</td>
<td>Communication Services Select SPDR ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLC#NYSE">XLC</a>)</td>
<td>35.97%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Consumer Discretionary</td>
<td>Vanguard Consumer Discretionary ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VCR#NYSE">VCR</a>)</td>
<td>27.21%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Technology</td>
<td>Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLK#NYSE">XLK</a>)</td>
<td>27.01%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Financials</td>
<td>Invesco S&amp;P 500 Equal Weight Financial ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RSPF#NYSE">RSPF</a>)</td>
<td>23.48%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Industrials</td>
<td>Vanguard Industrials ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VIS#NYSE">VIS</a>)</td>
<td>17.80%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Real Estate</td>
<td>Real Estate Select Sector SPDR (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLRE#NYSE">XLRE</a>)</td>
<td>0.27%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Materials</td>
<td>Materials Select Sector SPDR Fund (ARC: XLB)</td>
<td>-0.37%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<figcaption class="wp-element-caption">(As Of Dec. 23 Close)</figcaption></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/24021831/Chart-2.1-cyclical-sectors-1024x576.png" alt="" class="wp-image-705439" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/24021831/Chart-2.1-cyclical-sectors-1024x576.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/24021831/Chart-2.1-cyclical-sectors-300x169.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/24021831/Chart-2.1-cyclical-sectors-768x432.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/24021831/Chart-2.1-cyclical-sectors-1536x864.png 1536w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/24021831/Chart-2.1-cyclical-sectors.png 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></figure>
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/11/42383725/trump-administrations-deregulation-efforts-to-lift-energy-oil-and-gas-sectors-ai-frenzy-to-aid-faang-stocks-and-nvidia-says-fintech-insider">Trump&#8217;s Deregulation Efforts To Benefit Energy, Oil And Gas Sectors, While AI Frenzy Will Boost FAANG Stocks And Nvidia, Says Fintech Insider</a>
Among the defensive sectors, utilities emerged as a winner, whereas energy was an underperformer. Consumer staples, energy, and utilities take up 5.7%, 3.4%, and 2.5% weight, respectively in the S&amp;P 500 index.
As per Morgan Stanley, the energy sector faces a divided future. Trump's deregulation could benefit traditional energy, but the outlook for oil is uncertain due to potential oversupply and weak global demand, especially from China. In contrast, natural gas may see growth from strong European demand and increased domestic use for electrification and AI-powered data centers. The clean energy sector could face challenges, if Trump rollbacks Biden's 2022 Inflation Reduction Act tax credits. However, a full repeal seems unlikely due to the benefits for Republican states.
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Defensive Sectors</td>
<td>ETFs</td>
<td>YTD Performance</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Utilities</td>
<td>Vanguard Utilities ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VPU#NYSE">VPU</a>)</td>
<td>18.23%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Consumer Staples</td>
<td>Vanguard Consumer Staples ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VDC#NYSE">VDC</a>)</td>
<td>10.04%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Healthcare</td>
<td>Vanguard Health Care ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VHT#NYSE">VHT</a>)</td>
<td>0.63%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Energy</td>
<td>The Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLE#NYSE">XLE</a>)</td>
<td>-0.96%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<figcaption class="wp-element-caption">(As Of Dec. 23 Close)</figcaption></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/24022041/Chart-2.2-defensive-sectors-1024x576.png" alt="" class="wp-image-705442" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/24022041/Chart-2.2-defensive-sectors-1024x576.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/24022041/Chart-2.2-defensive-sectors-300x169.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/24022041/Chart-2.2-defensive-sectors-768x432.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/24022041/Chart-2.2-defensive-sectors-1536x864.png 1536w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/24022041/Chart-2.2-defensive-sectors.png 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></figure>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Top S&amp;P 500 Performers In 2024</h3>
Palantir was the top performer within the S&amp;P 500 index this year, as it zoomed 386.67% year-to-date, as of Dec. 23 close. Vistra and Nvidia followed Palantir to advance 269.82% and 189.95% in the same period.
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>S&amp;P 500 Stocks</td>
<td>YTD Performance</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NASDAQ">PLTR</a>)</td>
<td>386.67%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Vistra Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VST#NYSE">VST</a>)</td>
<td>269.82%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>)</td>
<td>189.95%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>GE Vernova Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GEV#NYSE">GEV</a>)</td>
<td>162.80%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Axon Enterprise Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AXON#NASDAQ">AXON</a>)</td>
<td>148.04%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>United Airlines Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UAL#NASDAQ">UAL</a>)</td>
<td>144.30%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Broadcom Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AVGO#NASDAQ">AVGO</a>)</td>
<td>114.07%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Texas Pacific Land Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TPL#NYSE">TPL</a>)</td>
<td>113.03%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Targa Resources Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TRGP#NYSE">TRGP</a>)</td>
<td>106.40%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Howmet Aerospace Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HWM#NYSE">HWM</a>)</td>
<td>105.73%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<figcaption class="wp-element-caption">(As Of Dec. 23 Close)</figcaption></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/24022228/Chart-3-top-performers-of-SPY-1024x576.png" alt="" class="wp-image-705446" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/24022228/Chart-3-top-performers-of-SPY-1024x576.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/24022228/Chart-3-top-performers-of-SPY-300x169.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/24022228/Chart-3-top-performers-of-SPY-768x432.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/24022228/Chart-3-top-performers-of-SPY-1536x864.png 1536w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/24022228/Chart-3-top-performers-of-SPY.png 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></figure>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">U.S. Dollar Surges Over 6% In 2024</h3>
The Dollar index was up 6.72% year-to-date with a 52-week range of 100.1570 to 108.5410 per unit. If the Greenback can hold on to these gains, the currency would leave behind the second-best year since 2015.
The UDS&#8217;s demand has been rising due to the &#8220;Uncertainties arising from expected Trump's policies and hawkish comments from the Fed towards rate cycle,&#8221; said Kunal Sodhani, vice president of the global trading center at Shinhan Bank.
According to Franklin Templeton, &#8220;The Fed easing cycle will be a dominant factor for the USD. The two main comparisons we draw against the Fed cyclically, interest-rate-wise, are emerging markets, and Japan.&#8221;
WisdomTree Bloomberg US Dollar Bullish Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/USDU#NYSE">USDU</a>) was up 13.24% on a year-to-date basis, as of Dec. 23 close, where as Invesco DB US Dollar Index Bullish Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UUP#NYSE">UUP</a>) advanced by 7.21% in the same period.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/24022447/Chart-4-Dollar-ETFs-1024x576.png" alt="" class="wp-image-705448" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/24022447/Chart-4-Dollar-ETFs-1024x576.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/24022447/Chart-4-Dollar-ETFs-300x169.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/24022447/Chart-4-Dollar-ETFs-768x432.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/24022447/Chart-4-Dollar-ETFs-1536x864.png 1536w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/24022447/Chart-4-Dollar-ETFs.png 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></figure>
Read Next
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42642834/market-breadth-turns-positive-after-a-rare-14-day-negative-streak-history-suggests-gains-ahead">Market Breadth Rebounds As Risk Appetite Makes A Comeback: This Analyst Predicts Gains Ahead After S&amp;P 500&#8217;s Record Negative Streak</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

S&P 500 Hits 57 All-Time Highs In Record-Breaking 2024: Magnificent 7 Drive 30% Of Nasdaq's Surge

Wall Street kicked off the Santa Rally season on a positive note, with all major indices and sectors closing higher in a shortened session ahead <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/12/42665923/is-stock-market-open-on-christmas-eve-2024-a-quick-guide-for-market-hours-banks-and-whats-closed-for-santa-claus">of the Christmas holiday.</a>
The S&amp;P 500 climbed 1%, extending its gains for a third consecutive session following last week&#8217;s volatile Federal Reserve meeting.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.9%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 gained 1.3%, nearly erasing last week&#8217;s losses.
Consumer discretionary stocks, the top-performing sector of the year, led the rally amid light trading volumes. Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) surged 7.35%, marking its strongest single-day performance since November.
Other standout performers in the S&amp;P 500 included Walmart Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMT#NYSE">WMT</a>), Starbucks Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SBUX#NASDAQ">SBUX</a>), and Netflix Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NFLX#NASDAQ">NFLX</a>), up 2.4%, 2.8% and 2.5% respectively. 
The U.S. dollar index posted modest gains, with the greenback hovering near over one-year highs against the euro. Treasury yields remained stable, with the 10-year benchmark at 4.6%, the highest level since May.
In commodities, gold edged up 0.4%, while oil prices rose 0.7%.
Risk appetite returned to the cryptocurrency market following recent volatility, as Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) jumped 4% to over $98,000. This rally buoyed crypto-related stocks, including Microstrategy Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSTR#NASDAQ">MSTR</a>), MARA Digital Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MARA#NASDAQ">MARA</a>), and Coinbase Global Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COIN#NASDAQ">COIN</a>), all posting notable gains.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Tuesday&#8217;s Performance In Major US Indices, ETFs</h3>
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Major Indices </td>
<td>Price</td>
<td>1-day %chg</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nasdaq 100</td>
<td>21,771.80</td>
<td>1.3%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>S&amp;P 500</td>
<td>6,032.64</td>
<td>1.0%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Russell 2000</td>
<td>2,254.99</td>
<td>0.8%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dow Jones</td>
<td>43,239.42</td>
<td>0.8%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Updated at 1:00 p.m. ET</figcaption></figure>
According to&nbsp;<a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent122324&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">Benzinga Pro</a>&nbsp;data:
<ul>
<li>The&nbsp;SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) rose 1.1% to $601.01.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIA#NYSE">DIA</a>)&nbsp;rose 0.8% to $432.44.</li>
<li>The tech-heavy&nbsp;Invesco QQQ Trust Series&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>) rallied 1.3% to $529.94.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;iShares Russell 2000 ETF&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IWM#NYSE">IWM</a>) rose 1% to $223.46.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLY#NYSE">XLY</a>) outperformed, up by 2.3%; the&nbsp;Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLU#NYSE">XLU</a>) lagged, up 0.5%.</li>
</ul>
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/12/42673660/bitcoin-ethereum-xrp-dogecoin-surge-around-5-in-christmas-eve-santa-rally">Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, Dogecoin Surge Around 5% In Christmas Eve &#8216;Santa Rally&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>
Photo via Shutterstock.

Tech stocks began Christmas week with positive momentum, as the Nasdaq 100 rose 0.4% on Monday, building on a 0.7% gain from Friday. The index has now recovered nearly half of the losses sustained following the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/federal-reserve">Federal Reserve's recent policy meeting.</a>
Semiconductors stood out as the top-performing sector:
<ul>
<li>iShares Semiconductor ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SOXX#NYSE">SOXX</a>) jumping 2.3%.</li>
<li>Broadcom Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AVGO#NASDAQ">AVGO</a>), up 4.7%</li>
<li>Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMD#NASDAQ">AMD</a>), which surged 4.9%.</li>
</ul>
Meanwhile, other major indices showed minimal movement in what appeared to be a session marked by low trading volumes.
Consumer staples emerged as the weakest sector, with notable declines in major retailers. Dollar General Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DG#NYSE">DG</a>) dropped 3.3%, while Walmart Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMT#NYSE">WMT</a>) shed 2.8%. 
In economic news, U.S. consumer confidence fell sharply in December, with the index dropping 8.1 points to 104.7 amid worsening expectations in future economic conditions.
The U.S. dollar index edged higher, mirroring a further surge in Treasury yields. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note rose 4 basis points to 4.57%, approaching its highest closing level since late May.
In commodities, gold slipped 0.4%, set to break a two-session winning streak, while oil prices declined 1%.
In the cryptocurrency market, Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) fell 1.7% to around $93,000, eyeing its fifth loss in the past six sessions.
Shares of MicroStrategy Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSTR#NASDAQ">MSTR</a>) tumbled over 4% in their first trading session after the company's inclusion in the Nasdaq 100 index.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Monday&#8217;s Performance In Major US Indices, ETFs</h3>
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Major Indices</td>
<td>Price</td>
<td>1-day %chg</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nasdaq 100</td>
<td>21,373.71</td>
<td>0.4%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>S&amp;P 500</td>
<td>5,932.42</td>
<td>0.0%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Russell 2000</td>
<td>2,232.71</td>
<td>-0.4%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dow Jones</td>
<td>42,620.75</td>
<td>-0.5%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Updated at 12:30 p.m. ET </figcaption></figure>
According to&nbsp;<a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent122324&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">Benzinga Pro</a>&nbsp;data:
<ul>
<li>The&nbsp;SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) edged 0.1% higher to $592.12.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIA#NYSE">DIA</a>)&nbsp;eased 0.4% to $427.22.</li>
<li>The tech-heavy&nbsp;Invesco QQQ Trust Series&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>) rose 0.4% to $520.67.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;iShares Russell 2000 ETF&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IWM#NYSE">IWM</a>) eased 0.4% to $221.06.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLK#NYSE">XLK</a>) outperformed, up by 0.5%; the&nbsp;Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLP#NYSE">XLP</a>) lagged, down 2%.</li>
</ul>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Monday&#8217;s Stock Movers</h3>
<ul>
<li>Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVO#NYSE">NVO</a>) rose 3% following a 17.8% drop on Friday. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced on Monday that it has approved Hikma Pharmaceuticals&#8217; generic version of Novo Nordisk&#8217;s Victoza for treating type 2 diabetes.</li>
<li>New Fortress Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NFE#NASDAQ">NFE</a>) rallied 18%, after Stifel raised the stock price target from $16 to $18. </li>
<li>Carnival Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CCL#NYSE">CCL</a>) fell over 4% following a 6.4% post-earning rally Friday. </li>
</ul>
Read now: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42653753/history-may-hint-at-sp-500-struggles-in-2025-yet-there-is-also-hope-heres-why">History Suggests S&amp;P 500 Could Struggle In 2025, But There&#8217;s Reason For Optimism</a></li>
</ul>
Image: Shutterstock

Tech Stocks Eye Christmas Gains, Microstrategy Tumbles As Bitcoin Dips To $93,000: What's Driving Markets Monday?

Major indexes are higher following November PCE data.

Risk sentiment returned to Wall Street on Friday, revitalized by softer-than-expected November inflation data leading to a strong market rebound following the selloff triggered by the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/24/12/42615908/feds-preferred-inflation-gauge-falls-more-than-expected-markets-breathe-sigh-of-relief">Federal Reserve&#8217;s recent meeting.</a>
The Personal Consumption Expenditure price index rose 2.4% year-over-year in November, falling short of the 2.5% increase forecasted. The core PCE, a key gauge closely watched by the Fed, also missed expectations, rising 2.8% compared to the anticipated 2.9%.
By midday Friday, all major indices were in rally mode, with broad-based gains across sectors. In the S&amp;P 500, 480 companies traded higher, and every sector advanced as investors welcomed the reprieve in inflationary pressures.
The real estate sector led the charge, rebounding sharply after being hit hardest in the aftermath of the Fed meeting. Small-cap stocks in the Russell 2000 also posted robust gains, powered by a strong recovery in regional banks.
The travel industry soared, driven by upbeat earnings and optimistic guidance from Carnival Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CCL#NYSE">CCL</a>), which fueled enthusiasm across the sector. The cruise line rose by 6%, eyeing the highest close since October 2021. 
In the bond market, yields dropped by approximately 5 basis points across the curve, boosting Treasury prices. The iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TLT#NASDAQ">TLT</a>) gained nearly 1%, recovering some ground after a 3% slide over the previous two sessions. The dollar softened, declining 0.6%, while gold gained over 1%. 
Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) attracted dip buyers after plunging to $92,118. Although the cryptocurrency pared its daily losses, it remains on track for its worst weekly performance in four months.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Friday&#8217;s Performance In Major US Indices, ETFs</h3>
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Major Indices</td>
<td>Price</td>
<td>1-day %chg</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dow Jones</td>
<td>42,853.53</td>
<td>1.2%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>S&amp;P 500</td>
<td>5,934.51</td>
<td>1.1%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Russell 2000</td>
<td>2,246.04</td>
<td>1.1%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nasdaq 100</td>
<td>21,339.90</td>
<td>1.1%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Updated at 1:30 p.m. ET</figcaption></figure>
According to&nbsp;<a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent121924&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">Benzinga Pro</a>&nbsp;data:
<ul>
<li>The&nbsp;SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) rose 1.1% to $592.31.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIA#NYSE">DIA</a>)&nbsp;rose 1.2% to $429.61.</li>
<li>The tech-heavy Invesco QQQ Trust Series (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>) edged 1.4% higher to $521.53.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;iShares Russell 2000 ETF&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IWM#NYSE">IWM</a>) soared 1.2% to $222.59.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;Real Estate Select Sector SPDR Fund&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLRE#NYSE">XLRE</a>) outperformed, up by 2.3%; the&nbsp;Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLB#NYSE">XLB</a>) lagged, up 0.6%.</li>
</ul>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Friday&#8217;s Performance In Major US Indices, ETFs</h3>
<ul>
<li>Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVO#NYSE">NVO</a>) plummeted 17%, marking its worst single-day drop since April 2002. after disappointing weight-loss trial data for<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/24/12/42623343/exclusive-weight-loss-market-experts-scoop-up-novo-nordisk-stock-after-worst-drop-since-2002-following-drug-trial-miss"> its obesity drug, CagriSema.</a></li>
<li>Enphase Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ENPH#NASDAQ">ENPH</a>) rallied over 8% as analysts at OTR Research raised the stock rating from Negative to Mixed.</li>
<li>Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NCLH#NYSE">NCLH</a>) also rallied over 6% in reaction to Carnival Cruise&#8217;s upbeat results. Other travel-related companies seeing strong gains Friday included Airbnb Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ABNB#NASDAQ">ABNB</a>), up 3.9%, Hyatt Hotels Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/H#NYSE">H</a>), up 3.4%, and Royal Caribbean Cruise Ltd. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RCL#NYSE">RCL</a>), up 3.6%.</li>
<li>Nike Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NKE#NYSE">NKE</a>) fell 1.2% in reaction to its latest quarterly results and FedEx Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FDX#NYSE">FDX</a>) inched 0.6% higher. </li>
</ul>
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/24/12/42623343/exclusive-weight-loss-market-experts-scoop-up-novo-nordisk-stock-after-worst-drop-since-2002-following-drug-trial-miss">EXCLUSIVE: Weight-Loss Market Experts Scoop Up Novo Nordisk Stock After Worst Drop Since 2002 Following Drug Trial Miss</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock

Wall Street Rallies On Soft Inflation Data, Bonds Rebound, Travel Stocks Surge: What's Driving Markets Friday?

Markets saw a brief reprieve Friday as the Federal Reserve&#8217;s preferred inflation gauge came in below expectations, tempering concerns of mounting volatility after this <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/24/12/42615908/feds-preferred-inflation-gauge-falls-more-than-expected-markets-breathe-sigh-of-relief">week's hawkish policy pivot.</a>
The Personal Consumption Expenditures price index rose 2.4% year-over-year in November, missing the 2.5% forecast. On a monthly basis, the gauge slowed to 0.1%, down from 0.2% in October and below projections for steady growth.
Core PCE, which excludes food and energy, remained at 2.8% annually, slightly under the 2.9% estimate. The monthly core reading also decelerated to 0.1% from 0.3%, undershooting the 0.2% forecast.
Even with Friday's softer inflation print, traders seemed hesitant to enter a buy-everything mode after the sharp volatility seen earlier this week. 
The slightly tempered reaction suggests a degree of caution remains entrenched among investors as they assess the Fed's hawkish tone.
New York Fed President John Williams, interviewed by CNBC, reiterated that &#8220;monetary policy continues to be restrictive.&#8221; 
Williams described the recent inflation data as &#8220;encouraging news,&#8221; highlighting further disinflation progress. Yet, he indicated that &#8220;we&#8217;re still not to our 2% goal&#8221; and reaffirmed the Fed's commitment to achieving that target.
&#8220;I think the economy is a good place and most importantly for me, monetary policy is well positioned,&#8221; he added. 
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Stock Market Adds Some Gains, Yet &#8220;Don&#8217;t Fight The Fed&#8221; Remains The Mantra</h1>
U.S. equity markets saw modest gains following November&#8217;s softer-than-expected inflation data, as investor caution lingered after the Federal Reserve's hawkish policy shift earlier this week.
<ul>
<li>S&amp;P 500: The broader market index — as tracked by the SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) — edged up from 5,800 to 5,840 by 9:50 a.m. in New York, down by 0.4% for the day.</li>
<li>Dow Jones: The SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIA#NYSE">DIA</a>) gained 0.4% after the release.</li>
<li>Nasdaq 100: Tech stocks fared better, with the Nasdaq QQQ Trust (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>) adding 0.6% and recovering from steeper pre-market declines.</li>
<li>Real estate was the strongest-performing sector, with the Vanguard Real Estate ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VNQ#NYSE">VNQ</a>) rising by 1.1%. </li>
<li>Russell 2000: Small-cap stocks showed the largest rebound, with the iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IWM#NYSE">IWM</a>) up by 0.1%. </li>
<li>The SPDR S&amp;P Regional Banking ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KRE#NYSE">KRE</a>) witnessed a 0.8% rally. </li>
</ul>
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Treasury Yields Ease, Dollar Falls And Gold Rebounds</h1>
Bond markets saw some relief as Treasury yields fell following several days of sharp increases. 
The yield on the 30-year Treasury bond dropped five basis points to 4.70%, lifting the iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TLT#NASDAQ">TLT</a>) by 0.8%. This marks a partial recovery after the ETF plunged more than 3% over the previous two sessions.
Yields on shorter-dated two-year Treasury notes fell by seven basis points.
The U.S. dollar index — as tracked by the Invesco DB USD Index Bullish Fund ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UUP#NYSE">UUP</a>) — weakened by 0.3%.
Gold prices rose, as the precious metal benefited from lower Treasury yields and the declining dollar. The SPDR Gold Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GLD#NYSE">GLD</a>) increased by 0.7%.
In the cryptocurrency market, the iShares Bitcoin Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IBIT#NYSE">IBIT</a>) trimmed premarket losses to 0.9%, as the largest cryptocurrency surged back above $95,000 levels. 
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/12/42606037/etf-market-hits-records-in-2024-inflows-reach-16-trillion-7-funds-top-ranking">ETF Market Sets Records In 2024 As Inflows Reach $1.6 Trillion: 7 Funds Leading Charge</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock

The day after a volatile Federal Reserve meeting, Wall Street grappled with the stark reality of Fed Chair <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/jerome-powell">Jerome Powell</a>&#8216;s cautious tone on cutting interest rates in 2024. The message left investors weighing the impact of higher-for-longer interest rates amid<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/24/12/42585715/us-gdp-upwardly-revised-to-31-in-q3-jobless-claims-drop-more-than-expected-treasury-yields-hit-7-month-highs"> a still-resilient economy.</a>
Despite the hawkish undertones, stocks managed to stabilize, with major indices posting modest gains as dip-buyers emerged.
The S&amp;P 500 rose 0.5%, recovering from a steep 3% selloff on Wednesday—its worst one-day drop since September 2022. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.4%, attempting to break a staggering 10-day losing streak, its longest since 1974, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 edged 0.3% higher. 
While equities regained some ground, market conviction remains tepid as investors brace for Friday's release of the November inflation report, a critical data point for the Federal Reserve&#8217;s future policy decisions. The report could either reaffirm the Fed's hawkish stance or inject hope for an <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/24/12/42598354/wall-street-pins-hopes-on-fridays-crucial-fed-inflation-report-yet-a-miracle-is-needed-to-shift-the-narrative">lower-than-expected data.</a>
Thursday's economic data continued to underscore the resilience of the U.S. economy. Third-quarter GDP growth was upwardly revised from 2.8% to 3.1%, amid strong consumer spending. Weekly jobless claims fell to 220,000 last week, below forecasts of 230,000, signaling a still-tight labor market.
The bond market extended its selloff, with longer-dated Treasuries taking the biggest hit. Fixed-income investors remain under pressure, exacerbated by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42594797/trump-wants-to-get-rid-of-the-debt-ceiling-30-year-treasury-bonds-fall-to-2024-lows-stocks-cut-gains">recent comments from Donald Trump,</a> who floated the idea of eliminating the U.S. debt ceiling entirely—a development that could upend Treasury market dynamics.
In currency markets, the U.S. Dollar Index (DXY) rose 0.2%, hitting its highest level since November 2022, supported by robust economic data.
Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) remained flat at $100,000, following Wednesday&#8217;s 5.6% plunge.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Thursday&#8217;s Performance In Major US Indices</h3>
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Major Indices</td>
<td>Price</td>
<td>1-day %chg</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>S&amp;P 500</td>
<td>5,903.81</td>
<td>0.5%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dow Jones</td>
<td>42,511.46</td>
<td>0.4%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nasdaq 100</td>
<td>21,278.46</td>
<td>0.3%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Russell 2000</td>
<td>2,228.69</td>
<td>-0.1%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Updated at 12:10 p.m. ET </figcaption></figure>
According to&nbsp;<a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent121924&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">Benzinga Pro</a>&nbsp;data:
<ul>
<li>The&nbsp;SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) rose 0.5% to $589.79.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIA#NYSE">DIA</a>)&nbsp;rose 0.5% to $426.40.</li>
<li>The tech-heavy&nbsp;Invesco QQQ Trust Series&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>) edged 0.3% up to $517.89.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;iShares Russell 2000 ETF&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IWM#NYSE">IWM</a>) stalled at $220.70. </li>
<li>The&nbsp;Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLU#NYSE">XLU</a>) outperformed, up by 1%; the&nbsp;Materials Select Sector SPDR Fund&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLB#NYSE">XLB</a>) lagged, down 0.6%.</li>
</ul>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Thursday&#8217;s Stock Movers</h3>
<ul>
<li>Micron Technology Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MU#NASDAQ">MU</a>) plummeted over 16% after a weaker-than-expected guidance for fiscal 2025, eyeing the worst 1-day drop since March 2020. </li>
<li>Accenture plc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ACN#NYSE">ACN</a>) rallied over 6% in reaction to stronger-than-expected quarterly earnings.</li>
<li>Other stocks reacting to earnings included Darden Restaurants Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DRI#NYSE">DRI</a>) up 15%, Cintas Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CTAS#NASDAQ">CTAS</a>) down 10%, Paychex Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PAYX#NASDAQ">PAYX</a>), up 2.5%, ConAgra Brands Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CAG#NYSE">CAG</a>), down 2%, FactSet Research Systems Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FDS#NYSE">FDS</a>) up 3.3%, CarMax Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KMX#NYSE">KMX</a>), up 4.3%, and Lamb Weston Holdings Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LW#NYSE">LW</a>), down 23%. </li>
<li>Major companies slated to report their earnings after the close include FedEx Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FDX#NYSE">FDX</a>) and Nike Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NKE#NYSE">NKE</a>). </li>
</ul>
Read now: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/12/42598016/whats-going-on-with-applied-materials-amat-stock">What&#8217;s Going On With Applied Materials (AMAT) Stock?</a></li>
</ul>
Image by Shutterstock

US Stocks Edge Up, Micron Suffers Worst Day Since March 2020, Bond Yields Surge: What's Driving Thursday's  Markets?

Major indexes are higher following US GDP and jobless claims data.

The U.S. stock market experienced a severe selloff Wednesday after Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell&#8216;s comments triggered what CNBC&#8217;s Jim Cramer described as &#8220;incredible panic&#8221; in the markets.
What Happened: &#8220;People throwing away good and bad. Typical index fund behavior,&#8221; Cramer wrote on X, specifically highlighting concerns about small-cap stocks&#8217; performance. &#8220;And all of those people who loved the Small Caps (the Russell 2000?) now what??&#8221;
The market reaction came after Powell announced a 25-basis-point rate cut to 4.25%-4.5%, while signaling only two potential rate cuts in 2025 – fewer than the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/econ-s/24/12/42561549/fed-slashes-interest-rates-by-0-25-as-predicted-december-dot-plot-flags-only-2-potential-cuts-in-2025">four projected in September</a>.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Incredible panic out there.. People throwing away good and bad. Typical index fund behavior. And all of those people who loved the Small Caps (the Russell 2000?) now what??
&mdash; Jim Cramer (@jimcramer) <a href="https://twitter.com/jimcramer/status/1869487562500497413?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 18, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
The selloff was broad and deep, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average, as tracked by the SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIA#NYSE">DIA</a>) plunging 2.48% to close at 42,326, marking its worst one-day drop since September 2022. 
The S&amp;P 500 index — tracked by the SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) fell 2.9% to 5,872, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100, tracked by Invesco QQQ Trust (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>), dropped 3.6% to 21,209.
Small-cap stocks, as measured by the iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IWM#NYSE">IWM</a>), bore the brunt of the selling pressure, tumbling 4.4% to 2,231, completely erasing their post-election gains.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42567704/micron-technology-quantum-corporation-meta-amazon-tesla-why-these-5-stocks-are-on-investors-radars-today">Micron Technology, Quantum Corporation, Meta, Amazon, Tesla: Why These 5 Stocks Are On Investors&#8217; Radars Today</a>
Why It Matters: The &#8220;Magnificent Seven&#8221; tech stocks collectively <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/econ-s/24/12/42564807/powell-triggers-market-carnage-vix-spikes-58-stocks-plummet-dollar-hits-2-year-highs-bitcoin-nosedives">lost over $600 billion in market value</a>, with Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) leading the decline, down 8.2%.
Powell described the Fed&#8217;s approach as entering &#8220;a new phase&#8221; for monetary policy, emphasizing a more cautious stance on future rate cuts. The Fed now projects inflation to reach 2.5% in 2025, up from its <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/24/12/42563299/feds-powell-shocks-markets-its-a-new-phase-were-significantly-closer-to-neutral">previous estimate of 2.1%</a>.
The market anxiety was reflected in the CBOE Volatility Index, which surged 58% to 25, while the U.S. dollar climbed to two-year highs. Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) fell 5.32%, trading just below $100,000, and gold dropped 2.1% to $2,580 per ounce.
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/24/12/42567762/bitcoin-ethereum-dogecoin-fall-after-fed-shows-no-interest-for-piling-btc-top-analyst-says-sentiment-shifting-2025-suddenly-looks-a-lot-less-rosy">Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin Fall After Fed Shows No Interest For Piling BTC: Top Analyst Says Sentiment Shifting — &#8216;2025 Suddenly Looks A Lot Less Rosy&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>
AI-Generated Image Created Using MidJourney
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Jim Cramer Warns Of 'Incredible Panic' As Jerome Powell's Hawkish Outlook Send Stocks Into Free Fall: 'People Throwing Away Good And Bad'

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell adopted a hawkish stance during his Wednesday press conference after the December Fed meeting, sparking a market bloodbath as the New York session <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/24/12/42563299/feds-powell-shocks-markets-its-a-new-phase-were-significantly-closer-to-neutral">headed to the close.</a>
Although the Federal Reserve lowered interest rates by 0.25% to a range of 4.25%-4.5%, as widely anticipated, the updated economic projections suggest just two potential rate cuts in 2025 — down from four projected in September and fewer than the three anticipated by markets before the meeting.
Powell described the shift as &#8220;a new phase&#8221; for monetary policy, emphasizing that after 100 basis points of rate cuts in 2024, rates are now significantly closer to a neutral stance. 
Stocks tumbled across the board, the U.S. dollar soared to two-year highs and Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) cratered over 5%, as investors digested the reality of a shift in the monetary policy stance by the Federal Reserve.
The CBOE Volatility Index, known as the VIX and Wall Street&#8217;s fear gauge, skyrocketed 58% to 25, reflecting a spike in investor uncertainty and heightened anxiety over the future of interest rates.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="557" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/18161803/image-161-1024x557.png" alt="" class="wp-image-698569" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/18161803/image-161-1024x557.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/18161803/image-161-300x163.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/18161803/image-161-768x418.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/18161803/image-161-1536x836.png 1536w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/18161803/image-161.png 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Wall Street Wipeout: Major Indices Slammed</h3>
The Dow Jones Industrial Average, as tracked by the SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIA#NYSE">DIA</a>), dropped 1,123 points, falling 2.6% to close at 42,326, marking its worst one-day drop since September 2022. Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) recorded the worst performance among blue-chip stocks, down 4.6%.
The S&amp;P 500 index — tracked by the SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) — fell 178 points, down 2.9% to 5,872, also marking its worst day since September 2022. Paycom Software Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PAYC#NYSE">PAYC</a>) was the major laggard within the S&amp;P 500, down 10%.
The tech-heavy Nasdaq 100, tracked by the Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>), experienced an even sharper drop of 3.6%, closing at 21,209 as interest rate-sensitive technology stocks took a beating. Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) tumbled 8.1%, marking the worst performance within the Nasdaq 100.
Every Magnificent Seven company ended the day in the red, collectively erasing more than $600 billion in market value on Wednesday.
Small caps in the Russell 2000 posted the steepest losses, plummeting 4.7% to 2,225. With Wednesday&#8217;s move, the iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IWM#NASDAQ">IWM</a>) has fully erased the post-election rally.
All major U.S. equity sectors finished in the red. 
Consumer Discretionary stocks suffered the most, plunging 4.5%, followed by Real Estate, which dropped 4% as rising rates weigh heavily on growth-oriented and interest-rate-sensitive industries.
Technology, the largest sector by market capitalization, fell 3.2%, with chipmakers and software companies bearing the brunt of the selloff. 
Communications and Materials both declined 2.9%, while Financials dropped 3%, reflecting pressure across cyclical areas of the market.
Even traditionally defensive sectors failed to escape the selloff. Utilities and Consumer Staples fell 2.4% and 1.5%, respectively.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Dollar Surges To 2-Year Highs, Hammers Gold And Bitcoin</h3>
The U.S. dollar emerged as the day's clear winner, with the dollar index (DXY), followed by the Invesco DB USD Index Bullish Fund ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UUP#NYSE">UUP</a>), climbing 1.2% to reach its highest level since November 2022.
As the greenback rallied, gold failed to provide a safe haven, falling 2.1% to $2,580 per ounce, while silver dropped 3.5%.
Risk-off sentiment extended into alternative assets. Bitcoin plunged 5.5%, trading just above $101,500.
During the press conference, Powell was asked whether the U.S. government should consider building a strategic reserve of Bitcoin. Powell quickly dismissed the idea, making it clear that such a move is not on the Fed&#8217;s radar.
"We're not allowed to own Bitcoin," Powell said, emphasizing the legal and structural limitations of the Federal Reserve. "The Federal Reserve Act dictates what we can own, and we're not seeking any changes to that law."
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Illustration generated with AI via Dall-E.

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Powell Triggers Market Carnage: VIX Spikes 58%, Stocks Plummet, Dollar Hits 2-Year Highs, Bitcoin Nosedives

General

Major indexes are higher ahead of the Fed's decision today. The Dow is also rebounding following recent weakness.

Wall Street inched marginally higher during Wednesday morning trading in New York, with traders remaining on edge ahead of the eagerly anticipated Federal Reserve meeting scheduled for 2 p.m. ET, followed by Fed Chair Jerome Powell&#8216;s press conference <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/24/12/42554114/all-eyes-on-december-fed-meeting-as-traders-await-interest-rate-projections">at 2:30 p.m. ET.</a>
The Fed is widely expected to reduce interest rates by 25 basis points to a target range of 4.25%-4.50%. Yet, the market&#8217;s reaction is likely to hinge on the updated economic projections and Powell&#8217;s commentary on future policy direction.
The semiconductor sector rebounded strongly, with the iShares Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SOXX#NASDAQ">SOXX</a>) climbing 0.9% after a 1.6% dip on Tuesday. Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) surged 3.6%, on track to mark its best single-day gain in a month and to snap a four-day losing streak. The jump followed Nvidia&#8217;s announcement of a new $249 Jetson computer for AI applications, significantly cheaper than its predecessor priced at $499.
In currency markets, the U.S. dollar edged 0.2% higher, with the DXY index breaking above 107, its highest level in three weeks. Treasury yields were steady, with the 10-year yield holding at 4.40% as traders awaited the Fed&#8217;s decision.
Commodities presented a mixed picture: gold slipped 0.4%, while WTI crude gained 1.2%, supported by a larger-than-expected drawdown in U.S. crude inventories.
The cryptocurrency market took a breather after recent strong gains, with Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) down 1.8%, trading below the $105,000 mark.
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Wednesday&#8217;s Performance In Major U.S. Indices, ETFs</h1>
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Major Indices</td>
<td>Price</td>
<td>1-day % chg</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dow Jones</td>
<td>43,597.75</td>
<td>0.3%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>S&amp;P 500</td>
<td>6,063.18</td>
<td>0.2%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Russell 2000</td>
<td>2,337.19</td>
<td>0.1%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nasdaq 100</td>
<td>22,010.91</td>
<td>0.0%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Updated at 12:10 p.m. ET</figcaption></figure>
According to&nbsp;<a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent121824&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">Benzinga Pro</a>&nbsp;data:
<ul>
<li>The&nbsp;SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) rose 0.2% to $605.62.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIA#NYSE">DIA</a>)&nbsp;rose 0.4% to $437.08.</li>
<li>The tech-heavy&nbsp;Invesco QQQ Trust Series&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>) held steady at $535.84.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;iShares Russell 2000 ETF&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IWM#NYSE">IWM</a>) edged 0.2% up to $231.42.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLK#NYSE">XLK</a>) outperformed, up by 0.4%; the&nbsp;Real Estate Select Sector SPDR Fund&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLRE#NYSE">XLRE</a>) lagged, down 0.4%.</li>
</ul>
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Wednesday&#8217;s Stock Movers</h1>
<ul>
<li>Micron Technology (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MU#NASDAQ">MU</a>) rose 2.4% ahead of its fiscal first-quarter earnings report. Analysts anticipate adjusted earnings of $1.76 per share on revenue of $8.7 billion for the quarter.</li>
<li>Stocks reacting to earnings reports included General Mills Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GIS#NYSE">GIS</a>), down 3%; Jabil Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JBL#NYSE">JBL</a>), up 9.6% and Heico Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HEI#NYSE">HEI</a>), down 8.7%.</li>
</ul>
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Stocks Inch Up Ahead Of Fed Decision, Nvidia Set To Snap Four Straight Losses, Bitcoin Slips: What's Driving Markets Wednesday?

As markets brace for the Federal Reserve's final policy meeting of the year, scheduled at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, Goldman Sachs highlighted 20 exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that have historically shown outsized <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/federal-reserve">moves around Fed decision days</a>.
While a 25-basis-point rate cut to a target range of 4.25%-4.50% is widely anticipated, the market's focus is on the Fed's forward guidance, particularly the Summary of Economic Projections (SEP) and the updated &#8220;dot plot.&#8221;
Following December's expected cut, Goldman Sachs projects a more measured pace of easing next year, forecasting rate cuts in March, June, and September, with the terminal rate seen at 3.50%-3.75%.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/24/12/42554114/all-eyes-on-december-fed-meeting-as-traders-await-interest-rate-projections">All Eyes On December Fed Meeting As Traders Await Interest Rate Projections</a>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Market Dynamics Around Fed Days</h3>
U.S. equity markets have displayed strong short-term gains during Fed meeting weeks in 2024. 
Investors employing a simple strategy of buying the S&amp;P 500 index at market close before a Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) announcement and selling at close the following day have captured median returns of 1.1% across the past seven meetings.
Yet those extending the trade horizon to 15 sessions post-Fed meeting have enjoyed significantly larger average gains of 3.29%, more than double the short-term returns. Notably, every Fed meeting this year has resulted in positive 15-day returns.
"We observe that U.S. banking ETFs, such as SPDR S&amp;P Bank ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KBE#NYSE">KBE</a>) and SPDR S&amp;P Regional Banking ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KRE#NYSE">KRE</a>), have seen unusually large moves on FOMC days since 2022" Goldman analysts wrote in a recent note.
For bond-focused investors, the report highlights consistent post-meeting gains in high-yield and investment-grade ETFs like iShares iBoxx $ High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HYG#NYSE">HYG</a>) and iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LQD#NYSE">LQD</a>).
Meanwhile, energy-focused ETFs, such as the United States Oil Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/USO#NYSE">USO</a>), have seen negative reactions. 
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">ETFs Showing Heightened Fed-Day Moves</h3>
Here's Goldman Sachs' list of 20 ETFs with the largest absolute moves – which include both positive and negative swing – on FOMC days:
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>ETF Name</th>
<th>Focus</th>
<th>Average Absolute Move on FOMC since 2022</th>
<th>Average Absolute Move (Last 3 FOMC events)</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>SPDR S&amp;P Regional Banking ETF </td>
<td>Regional Banking</td>
<td>2.5%</td>
<td>1.5%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>VanEck Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SMH#NASDAQ">SMH</a>)</td>
<td>Semiconductor</td>
<td>2.4%</td>
<td>3.7%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>iShares Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SOXX#NASDAQ">SOXX</a>)</td>
<td>Semiconductor</td>
<td>2.4%</td>
<td>3.3%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SPDR S&amp;P Bank ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KBE#NYSE">KBE</a>)</td>
<td>US Large Banks</td>
<td>2.2%</td>
<td>1.3%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SPDR S&amp;P Biotech ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XBI#NYSE">XBI</a>)</td>
<td>Biotech</td>
<td>2.0%</td>
<td>0.3%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>United States Oil Fund </td>
<td>Oil</td>
<td>1.9%</td>
<td>2.0%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLK#NYSE">XLK</a>)</td>
<td>Technology</td>
<td>1.9%</td>
<td>2.3%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>iShares Silver Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SLV#NYSE">SLV</a>)</td>
<td>Silver</td>
<td>1.7%</td>
<td>2.4%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Invesco QQQ Trust (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>)</td>
<td>Nasdaq 100</td>
<td>1.7%</td>
<td>1.7%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLY#NYSE">XLY</a>)</td>
<td>Discretionary</td>
<td>1.6%</td>
<td>1.0%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IWM#NYSE">IWM</a>)</td>
<td>Russell 2000</td>
<td>1.5%</td>
<td>0.3%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>)</td>
<td>S&amp;P 500</td>
<td>1.2%</td>
<td>0.9%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Vanguard S&amp;P 500 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VOO#NYSE">VOO</a>)</td>
<td>S&amp;P 500</td>
<td>1.2%</td>
<td>0.9%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLF#NYSE">XLF</a>)</td>
<td>Financial</td>
<td>1.1%</td>
<td>0.7%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SPDR Gold Shares (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GLD#NYSE">GLD</a>)</td>
<td>Gold</td>
<td>0.9%</td>
<td>1.4%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>iShares J.P. Morgan USD Emerging Markets Bond ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EMB#NASDAQ">EMB</a>)</td>
<td>EM Bond</td>
<td>0.8%</td>
<td>0.6%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>iShares iBoxx $ High Yield Corporate Bond ETF </td>
<td>HY Corp Bond</td>
<td>0.6%</td>
<td>0.3%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF </td>
<td>IG Corp Bond</td>
<td>0.6%</td>
<td>0.7%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IEF#NASDAQ">IEF</a>)</td>
<td>7-10 Year Treasury</td>
<td>0.6%</td>
<td>0.7%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>iShares TIPS Bond ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TIP#NYSE">TIP</a>)</td>
<td>TIPS Bond</td>
<td>0.5%</td>
<td>0.4%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Average</td>
<td></td>
<td>1.5%</td>
<td>1.3%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
Check Out: 
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20 ETFs Primed For Unusually Big Swings On Fed Meeting Days

The stock market edged lower by midday Tuesday as investors treaded cautiously ahead of the Federal Reserve&#8217;s policy <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/24/12/42514008/fed-poised-to-cut-interest-rates-by-0-25-this-week-heres-why-your-focus-should-shift-to-other-signals">decision scheduled for Wednesday.</a>
Although a rate cut appeared widely priced in—with Fed Funds futures assigning a 96% probability—investors are fully focused on the Fed's forward guidance and Chair Jerome Powell&#8216;s remarks, particularly in light of recent robust economic data.
November's retail sales data showed an unexpected rebound, rising 0.7% month-over-month, surpassing expectations of 0.5%. On an annual basis, sales climbed 3.8%, the fastest pace since December 2023, driven by strong auto sales growth.
Semiconductor stocks led the downturn amid renewed geopolitical tensions following reports that China is broadening antitrust scrutiny on U.S. chipmakers&#8217; acquisitions in recent years. Last week, Beijing launched an investigation into Nvidia Corp.'s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) 2019 acquisition of Mellanox Technologies.
The iShares Semiconductor ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SOXX#NYSE">SOXX</a>) declined 1.5%, weighed down by sharp losses in major chip stocks. Broadcom Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AVGO#NASDAQ">AVGO</a>) dropped over 5%, while Marvell Technology Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRVL#NASDAQ">MRVL</a>) plunged over 8%.
By midday, the major U.S. indices were in negative territory. The S&amp;P 500 slipped 0.4%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.6%, and the Nasdaq 100 declined 0.4%.
Both the U.S. dollar and Treasury yields remained steady, reflecting cautious positioning by institutional investors.
In commodities, gold dipped 0.3%, while natural gas and oil prices fell 2% and 1%, respectively, signaling continued weakness in the energy sector.
Cryptocurrencies continued to outperform. Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) climbed 1.3% to surpass $107,000, reaching a market capitalization of $2.13 trillion. The total cryptocurrency market value rose to $3.68 trillion, a new record high. 
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Tuesday&#8217;s Performance In Major US Indices, ETFs</h3>
<figure class="wp-block-table"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Major Indices</td>
<td>Price</td>
<td>1-day Chg %</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>S&amp;P 500</td>
<td>6,050.50</td>
<td>-0.4%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nasdaq 100</td>
<td>22,000.37</td>
<td>-0.4%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dow Jones</td>
<td>43,443.08</td>
<td>-0.6%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Russell 2000</td>
<td>2,345.01</td>
<td>-0.7%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
According to&nbsp;<a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent121624&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">Benzinga Pro</a>&nbsp;data:
<ul>
<li>The&nbsp;SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) fell 0.4% to $604.65.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIA#NYSE">DIA</a>)&nbsp;eased 0.6% to $435.75.</li>
<li>The tech-heavy&nbsp;Invesco QQQ Trust Series&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>) fell 0.4% to $536.21.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;iShares Russell 2000 ETF&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IWM#NYSE">IWM</a>) dipped 1% to $232.10.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLY#NYSE">XLY</a>) outperformed, up by 0.2%; the&nbsp;Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLE#NYSE">XLE</a>) lagged for the second straight session, down 1.3%.</li>
</ul>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Tuesday&#8217;s Stock Movers</h3>
<ul>
<li>Amer Sports Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AS#NYSE">AS</a>) rallied 5.7% after UBS analysts raised the stock price target from $27 to $37. </li>
<li>Amentum Holdings Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMTM#NYSE">AMTM</a>) tumbled by over 11% in reaction to its earnings reports, with the company highlighting pessimistic guidance for 2025.</li>
</ul>
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Photo: Shutterstock

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MRVL

Stocks Slip Ahead Of Fed Meeting, Chipmakers Suffer From China's Threat, Bitcoin Spikes Above $107,000: What's Driving Markets Tuesday?

Major indexes are higher amid strength in some large-cap tech stocks.

Tech stocks extended their rally to new heights on Monday, with the Nasdaq 100 index climbing over 1% to surpass 22,000 points, fueled by robust gains among key <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech">components in the index.</a>
Broadcom Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AVGO#NASDAQ">AVGO</a>) led the charge, soaring over 8% after receiving bullish price-target updates from analysts. The company's AI-driven growth potential gained further traction on Friday following its announcement of a collaboration with Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) to produce a cutting-edge AI chip.
Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) also rallied, jumping more than 5%, pushing its post-election gains to 85%, buoyed by positive analyst sentiment. Wedbush Securities described Tesla as a &#8220;game-changer&#8221; in AI and autonomous advancements under Trump's administration, adding to the bullish outlook.
Among other indices, the Russell 2000 rose 1%, while the S&amp;P 500 edged up 0.4%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, however, dipped 0.2%, weighed down by losses in the energy and healthcare sectors.
On the economic front, private-sector surveys showed a stronger-than-expected rebound in December activity. The services sector Purchasing Managers&#8217; Index (PMI) surged to 58.5, the highest reading since October 2021. Meanwhile, the Composite PMI climbed to 56.6, its best level since April 2022, as robust growth in services offset continued weakness in manufacturing.
Crypto-related assets gained fresh bullish momentum, driven by speculation about the U.S. government creating a Bitcoin Strategic Reserve fund. Meanwhile, MicroStrategy Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSTR#NASDAQ">MSTR</a>) will be added to the Nasdaq 100 Index on Dec. 23, further boosting sentiment.
Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) reached $107,000, marking a year-to-date gain of 153%. MicroStrategy shares rose 5.8%, while other crypto-linked stocks, such as MARA Digital Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MARA#NASDAQ">MARA</a>), Riot Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RIOT#NASDAQ">RIOT</a>), and Coinbase Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COIN#NASDAQ">COIN</a>), surged 11.1%, 9.2%, and 4.5%, respectively.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Monday&#8217;s Performance In Major US Indices, ETFs</h3>
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Major Indices </td>
<td>Price</td>
<td>1-day %</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nasdaq 100</td>
<td>22,043.82</td>
<td>1.2%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Russell 2000</td>
<td>2,369.39</td>
<td>1.0%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>S&amp;P 500</td>
<td>6,076.94</td>
<td>0.4%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dow Jones</td>
<td>43,750.42</td>
<td>-0.2%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Updated at 1:15 p.m. ET</figcaption></figure>
According to&nbsp;<a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent121624&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">Benzinga Pro</a>&nbsp;data:
<ul>
<li>The&nbsp;SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) rose 0.5% to $607.34.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIA#NYSE">DIA</a>)&nbsp;eased 0.2% to $438.86.</li>
<li>The tech-heavy&nbsp;Invesco QQQ Trust Series&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>) rose 1.4% to $537.94.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;iShares Russell 2000 ETF&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IWM#NYSE">IWM</a>) rose 1% to $235.13.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLY#NYSE">XLY</a>) outperformed, up by 1.2%; the&nbsp;Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLE#NYSE">XLE</a>) lagged, down 1.8%.</li>
</ul>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Monday&#8217;s Stock Movers</h3>
<ul>
<li>Micron Technology Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MU#NASDAQ">MU</a>) rose 7.1%, reflecting bullish investor sentiment ahead of its earnings report on Wednesday after the close.</li>
<li>Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) rose by 4.7%, building up momentum after last week&#8217;s 8.7% surge following the announcement of the quantum computer launch. </li>
<li>Shares of of natural gas companies fell amid prospects for less colder weather in the upcoming weeks. New Fortress Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NFE#NASDAQ">NFE</a>) led industry declines, down 7%. </li>
</ul>
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/24/12/42514008/fed-poised-to-cut-interest-rates-by-0-25-this-week-heres-why-your-focus-should-shift-to-other-signals">Fed Poised To Cut Interest Rates By 0.25% This Week: Here&#8217;s Why Your Focus Should Shift To Other Signals</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock

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Steve Reitmeister shares his annual "Lessons Learned" edition in the hopes it improves your investing performance in the years ahead. Clearly this process works given how Steve has topped the S&P 500 (SPY) once again this year. Read on below for the full story... Today we will do one of my favorite annual traditions.
That being the end of the year "Lessons Learned" edition where we talk openly about the good, bad and ugly of this past year. The benefit is to use these lessons in the future to continually improve our investing results.
Let's hop right into it...
2024 Lessons Learned
2024 was about as good of a year as an investor could wish for. There was never a moment where you doubted it was a bull market. This allowed us to stick to "bread and butter" stock picking to carve a path to outperformance.
With only 1 day left on the year the Reitmeister Total Return portfolio stands at +24.59%.
Yes, at one time we were a good notch higher, but unfortunately but December was a very Risk Off month where small caps and rate sensitive stocks saw their year to date gain slashed. Gladly, we did not give that back as much as the small caps which handed back half of their 2024 gains in December alone.
All in all, it's hard to complain when you consider the following results:
+10.84% Equal Weighted S&amp;P 500 (RSP) which removes the Mag 7 bias of the S&amp;P 500 (<a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/SPY/">SPY</a>) index.
+9.90% Russell 2000 (small cap index)
Meaning we more than doubled the returns generated by the average stock investor this year.
This mostly comes from 32 of 43 closed trades being winners (74%).
Our biggest winner was GoDaddy (GDDY) resulting in a +79.76% gain from March til late November.
EME was not far behind at +72.31% in just 3 months. And FFIV is the best current position on the books at +49.65%.
However, I would say our best trade was the quick hitting 13% gain on the 3X short of small caps (TZA) in late July as the Presidential race tightened up. This led to the typical seasonal pullback in shares which we timed quite well.
The move wasn't as deep and long lasting as the past election cycles. I think that is because the more people know about the pattern...the less it will act like the past. (So maybe a lesson learned is to not even trade it in 2028?).
Our worst trade was NICE falling 20% in less than 2 months spurred on by tensions in the middle east that harmed many Israeli stocks. Shares have never really recovered and still trading for about $10 less per share than we sold it for in May. So for as bad as it was it would have been even worse staying on board.
I do not believe there is a truly inspirational lesson to be garnered from this year.  Again, that's because it was fertile ground for a bull market which allowed us to focus on stock picking with little worry about market timing.
Yes, one can always debate about the mix of large cap vs. small cap. Or growth vs. value. Or which industries were in favor.
However, our approach has always been about diversification. Not too many eggs in one basket to increase the odds that you have enough stocks that are in favor at that time.
So even when I did have a bias for one of those groups...I never did it 100% across the board. I think this lesson learned from the past was helpful in lowering the volatility for our portfolio while still enjoying meaningful upside.
For as much as I would like to take credit for these strong results, it would be foolish for me not to tip my cap to the overwhelming advantage we derive from the <a href="https://stocknews.com/powr-ratings/">POWR Ratings</a>.
Day in and day out it shines a light on the most fundamentally sound stocks. Many of them flying under the radar of the average investor which often means its undervalued with impressive upside potential.
There is simply no way we would have 74% win rate without the POWR Ratings.
Or that only 2 of the losers were down more than 10%.
So really the big take away from 2024 is to trust the POWR Ratings.
Yes, there were days...weeks...months where things did not pan out as expected. However, staying patient with the process we always found our way back on top.
My <a href="https://www.wallstreetzen.com/blog/stock-market-outlook-webinar-replay/">2025 Stock Market Outlook</a> still points to very modest returns for the S&amp;P 500 in the year ahead. Breakeven or a small loss wouldn't surprise me either.
That is all the more the reason to appreciate the above lessons learned. And to keep focusing on the best stocks according to the POWR Ratings to enjoy outperformance in 2025.
What To Do Next?
Discover my current portfolio of 10 stocks packed to the brim with the outperforming benefits found in our exclusive POWR Ratings model. (Nearly 4X better than the S&amp;P 500 going back to 1999).
All of these hand selected picks are all based on my 44 years of investing experience seeing bull markets...bear markets...and everything between.
And right now this portfolio is beating the stuffing out of the market. 
If you are curious to learn more, and want to see my top 10 timely stock recommendations, then please click the link below to get started now.
<a href="https://report.stocknews.com/rtrsignup/">Steve Reitmeister's Trading Plan &amp; Top 10 Stocks &gt;</a>
Wishing you a world of investment success!
<img class="size-full wp-image-14665 alignnone" src="https://stocknews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Signature.jpg" alt="" width="106" height="78" /> 
Steve Reitmeister…but everyone calls me Reity (pronounced "Righty") 
<a href="https://report.stocknews.com/rtrsignup/">Editor, Reitmeister Total Return</a>

<hr />
SPY shares fell $0.19 (-0.03%) in after-hours trading Monday. Year-to-date, SPY has gained 25.34%, versus a % rise in the benchmark S&amp;P 500 index during the same period.
<hr><div style="clear:both;"></div> <h2>About the Author: Steve Reitmeister</h2> <img src='https:/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Screen-Shot-2019-07-23-at-2.05.03-PM.png' style="float:left; padding:5px;width:125px;">Steve is better known to the StockNews audience as "Reity". Not only is he the CEO of the firm, but he also shares his 40 years of investment experience in the <a href="https://report.stocknews.com/rtrsignup/" title="More info about Reitmeister Total Return portfolio">Reitmeister Total Return portfolio</a>. Learn more about Reity's background, along with links to his most recent articles and stock picks.<a href="https://stocknews.com/authors/?author=steve-reitmeister">More...</a>The post <a href=https://stocknews.com/news/spy-inx-dia-iwm-qqq-2024-stock-market-lessons-learned/>2024 Stock Market Lessons Learned</a> appeared first on <a href=https://stocknews.com/>StockNews.com</a>

2024 Stock Market Lessons Learned

In this video, Ira Epstein reviews the activity in the Financial Markets after the day that just ended, Monday, December 30.

Financial Markets Report For Monday, Dec 30

he S&P 500 finished 1.07% lower, but the breadth numbers were particularly weak. Of the S&P 500, 470 stocks were down, 31 were up, and two were unchanged—an overwhelmingly bearish day.


John BoozmanSenate (R-AR)	$1K - $15K	stock	Sale (Partial)	Oct 18, 2024	Oct 09, 2024	Senate
Brian MastHouse (R-FL)	$15K - $50K	etf	Sale	May 09, 2022	Apr 18, 2022	House

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