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7+ min ago (241+ words) If they behave, Wall Street investors could be in line for Christmas gift from the Fed. The Federal Reserve can close out the year with a "Santa Rally" that juices financial markets to close out the year, per Kyle Rodda, a senior financial market analyst for Capital.com. However, Rodda added that a "hawkish cut" from the central bank appeared more likely. In that scenario, the Fed slashes interest rates while still emphasizing the risk of carefully balancing its responsibility to ensure stable prices and full employment. That sends a signal to investors that it's treading carefully with an economy still grappling with the fallout from tariffs. "Like after its last meeting, that could be a source of volatility " and potentially upend the 'Santa Rally' even in the event of a rate cut as Wall Street hovers just below record…...

8+ min ago (587+ words) China's exports rebounded in November after an unexpected contraction the previous month, pushing its trade surplus past $1 trillion for the first time, according to data released Monday. Exports climbed 5.9% from a year earlier in November while imports rose just under 2%. The customs data released on Monday also showed that shipments to the U.S. dropped nearly 29% year-on-year. But as trade with the U.S. weakens, China is diversifying its export markets throughout Southeast Asia, Africa, Europe and Latin America. China's exports had contracted just over 1% in October. November's worldwide exports of $330.3 billion exceeded economists' estimates. Imports totaled $218.6 billion for the month. The nearly $1.08 trillion trade surplus for the first 11 months of this year is a record high, surpassing the $992 billion surplus for all of 2024, based on official data compiled by FactSet. A year-long trade truce between China and the U.S. was reached at a meeting…...

13+ min ago (280+ words) China's exports rebounded sharply in November, rising 5.9% year-over-year to $330.3 billion and pushing the country's trade surplus above $1 trillion for the first time, even as shipments to the United States plunged nearly 29%, according to customs data released Monday. The figures underscore Beijing's growing reliance on diversified export markets as U.S. demand continues to weaken. The data showed China's trade surplus reached nearly $1.08 trillion in the first 11 months of the year-surpassing the previous full-year record of $992 billion set in 2024, according to FactSet. Imports climbed 1.9% to $218.6 billion, reflecting modest domestic demand amid a prolonged slump in the property sector. Yet signs of fragility remain. China's official manufacturing survey recorded an eighth month of contraction in November, raising questions about whether global demand is truly recovering or merely stabilizing after a turbulent year. Economists say China is still poised to reach its roughly 5% growth target…...

14+ min ago (574+ words) The Euro edges lower against the US Dollar on Monday, with EUR/USD reversing earlier gains as the Greenback stages a rebound from recent lows, weighing on the shared currency. At the time of writing, EUR/USD is trading near 1.1623, close to a one-week low, after touching an intraday high of 1.1672 during the European session. The US Dollar Index (DXY), which tracks the Greenback against a basket of six major currencies, is trading around 99.20, after dipping to 98.79 earlier in the Asian session. From a technical perspective, the daily chart shows EUR/USD posting consecutive green candles in recent days, steadily climbing above the 21-day and 50-day Simple Moving Averages (SMAs). The advance followed a clean double-bottom formation around the 1.1500 psychological zone in late November. However, bulls continue to struggle at the neckline of that pattern, where the 100-day SMA intersects,…...

14+ min ago (633+ words) Planning for retirement means preparing for risks that could derail your financial security " but Americans and financial advisors don't agree on what those risks are. A new report from the Alliance for Lifetime Income reveals a surprising disconnect that may be putting long-term security in jeopardy. Explore More: Financial Advisors Weigh In: Whose Plan for Retirement Is Better, Dave Ramsey or Suze Orman? Read Next: 5 Clever Ways Retirees Are Earning Up To $1K Per Month From Home According to average Americans and their advisors, here's a look at the biggest retirement risks. According to the report, consumers' No. 1 concern when it comes to retirement is inflation, with 63% seeing this as a retirement risk. However, advisors don't list inflation as a top risk at all. Instead, they see the biggest retirement risks as outliving savings (56%) and market volatility (51%). "Despite the obvious disconnect,…...

22+ min ago (350+ words) Dec 8 (Reuters) - U.S. households grew more downbeat on their current and future financial situations in November, even as their expectations for the future "trajectory of inflation held steady, a New York Federal Reserve report released on "Monday showed. The regional Fed bank said in its Survey of Consumer Expectations for November that respondents' views "on their current financial situations "deteriorated notably" while their outlook a year from now "deteriorated slightly." Survey respondents' views on the job market, however, got better in November. The report said that expectations of higher unemployment a year from now ebbed, while the expectation of losing a "job at some point over the "next year cooled to its lowest reading since December 2024. Households also downgraded the probability of leaving a job voluntarily. The report was "released a day before the start of what is expected to be…...

24+ min ago (479+ words) Wall Street is a place where pundits frequently bring up a few historical truths. For instance: However, in this era of buying the dip at every turn, while most stocks continue to languish versus the "headliners" like the Magnificent 7, I'm not so sure it is that simple." That is, the eventual next bear market may not just be the proverbial "pause that refreshes." Assuming that it will be is a big risk." That's why I was glad to hear one veteran market strategist, Bob Doll of Crossmark Global Investments, describe the current stock market climate exactly the way I would. As he wrote recently, "We're in a High-Risk Bull Market." The economy is not sliding into a recession at the headline level, but it is not booming either. The K-shape, where those at the top are flourishing, while many others…...

26+ min ago (215+ words) This will shake society to its core," Deli told the audience at the state-backed industry conference last Friday. He urged AI companies to act as whistleblowers," warning the public about the'massive labor disruptions ahead. Deli described the current period as a honeymoon phase, a brief window where AI enhances productivity without replacing too many workers, but cautioned that once it ends, mass job losses will begin to accelerate. He added,Tech companies should play the role of guardians of humanity, at the very least, protecting human safety, then helping to reshape societal order." Founded in 2023,'DeepSeek jolted the stock market'earlier this year, especially AI US stocks, after unveiling a'low-cost model that is at a fraction of the cost of'ChatGPT's o1.' In the U.S., the latest'Challenger, Gray & Christmas jobs data showed that'AI-related job losses have already begun.' Here's a snippet from the report:…...

26+ min ago (423+ words) Michaels is facing backlash after listing a Christmas tree collar "on sale" for 59.99. Jenna (@j_marie_jo) peeled back the discounted sticker and uncovered the original price, which was 24.99. "This is [a] 140% markup" That's not tariffs, that's not regular [old] inflation, this is corporate greed. They are putting themselves out of business," one commenter added. Many commenters were quick to note that Michaels has had new leadership in recent years. Apollo Global purchased the arts and crafts retailer in 2021. Customers say they have noticed increased prices in stores along with less staff and alleged "dynamic" pricing. Since then, many shoppers have pointed to what they describe as a sudden deterioration in the quality of goods offered. "Apollo [global] is an equity firm. They've bought out multiple companies, which they liquidated then bankrupted. It's JoAnns all over again," said one commenter. Christmas trees, along…...

29+ min ago (43+ words) Consumer stocks fell late Monday afternoon with the Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLP) d Oops, something went wrong Sector Update: Consumer Stocks Slide Late Afternoon Consumer stocks fell late Monday afternoon with the Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLP) d...