Hi there,

🚀 Get Your 2026 Strategy Started

Before we dive into the numbers, there is no better time than the first week of January to review your portfolio and set your goals. We encourage all our viewers to book your free strategy call to get the new year started on the right foot. Our strategy calls officially resume from next week, so secure your spot now to ensure you have a clear plan for the months ahead!

• PREMIUM Plan Members: Strategy calls are included in your plan.
• All Other Members: Strategy calls can be scheduled at a rate of €100 per half hour.

Overview: Wall Street kicked off 2026 with a mixed and volatile performance. While the Dow and S&P 500 managed to finish in the green, the tech-heavy Nasdaq struggled as a rotation out of mega-cap "Magnificent Seven" stocks—including Meta and Microsoft—offset a massive rally in the semiconductor sector.

📈 Major Indices

• S&P 500: Gained +0.19%, closing at 6,858.47.
• Dow Jones Industrial Average: Rose +0.66% (319 points), closing at 48,382.39, leading the way thanks to cyclical and industrial strength.
• Nasdaq Composite: Eased by -0.03%, ending at 23,235.63, as early gains were erased by late-session selling in big tech.
• Russell 2000: Jumped +1.1%, showing a strong appetite for small-cap stocks to start the year.

🏛️ Bonds, FX & Commodities

• US 10-Year Yield: Held steady near 4.17%, as investors wait for next week’s crucial labor market data.
• US Dollar Index (DXY): Strengthened slightly to 98.46.
• Gold: Continued its historic run, gaining +1.4% to trade near $4,385.
• Silver: Sprinted out of the gates for the new year, rallying +4.8% to move back above $74.
• WTI Crude Oil: Slipped -0.2% to settle near $57.32 per barrel.

📊 Specific Stock Performance

• META (Meta Platforms): Down -1.47% ($650.41). Despite a strong open, Meta succumbed to profit-taking as investors rotated into industrials and chips.

• GOOGL (Alphabet Inc.): Up +0.5% ($315.32). Managed to hold onto modest gains, outperforming several of its mega-cap peers.
• NVO (Novo Nordisk ADR): Up +2.95% ($52.37). A powerful session for the healthcare leader, rebounding from year-end consolidation.
• ALK (Alaska Air Group): Up +1.25% ($51.88). Gained alongside the Dow's industrial-led rally on continued "soft landing" hopes.
• PFE (Pfizer Inc.): Up +0.12% ($25.07). A quiet but positive start to the year for the pharmaceutical giant.
• FLTR.L (Flutter Entertainment): Up +1.2% (approx. 16,720p). Started the year strong in the London session, tracking global discretionary strength.
• STZ (Constellation Brands): Down -0.4%. Remained a laggard as the market favored high-growth tech and cyclical sectors over staples.

Next Step: With the holiday season now officially behind us, all eyes turn to next Friday's Non-Farm Payrolls report, which will be the first major test for the Federal Reserve in 2026.

📞 Strategy Call Assistance

If you require assistance with trade setup, risk management, or strategy review, please schedule a strategy call.

• PREMIUM Plan Members: Strategy calls are included in your plan.
• All Other Members: Strategy calls can be scheduled at a rate of €100 per half hour.

Happy Investing

Share Navigator Support

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Hi there,

Overview: The final trading day of 2025 saw stocks drift lower as investors locked in profits following a massive year. The S&P 500 finished 2025 with a gain of roughly +16%, while the Nasdaq surged over +20%. Markets were closed yesterday, January 1, for New Year’s Day.

📈 Major Indices (Closing Values)

• S&P 500: Declined -0.74%, closing the year at 6,845.50.
• Nasdaq Composite: Fell -0.76%, ending at 23,241.99.
• Dow Jones Industrial Average: Slipped -0.63%, closing at 48,063.29.

🏛️ Bonds, FX & Commodities

• US 10-Year Yield: Rose to 4.17% as traders digested lower-than-expected weekly jobless claims (199k vs. 222k expected).
• Gold: Finished a historic year up nearly 65%, closing at $4,330 per ounce.
• Silver: Sank -9% on the final day to $70.40 but still ended 2025 with a massive 170% annual gain.
• WTI Crude Oil: Ended the year down nearly 20% overall, closing the final session near $55.00.

📊 Specific Stock Performance

• GOOGL (Alphabet Inc.): Finished the year as a top performer, up +65% for 2025, though it eased slightly in the final session.
• META (Meta Platforms): Followed the broader tech trend with a slight year-end pullback but remains one of the premier AI winners of the year.
• NVO (Novo Nordisk ADR): Slipped -0.66% to $50.88 on Wednesday. Despite the dip, it remains in a strong technical position following recent FDA pill-form approvals.
• FLTR.L (Flutter Entertainment): Mixed performance in London during the final half-day of 2025, ending the year with strong gains on the NYSE.
• PFE (Pfizer Inc.): Remained relatively flat, closing the year near $25.00 as investors stayed focused on growth over value.
• ALK (Alaska Air Group): Eased in the final session but outperformed the broader airline sector in 2025.
• STZ (Constellation Brands): Stayed defensive in the final days; the company is scheduled to report earnings next week (January 7).

🌅 Today's Market Preview: Friday, January 2, 2026

The Outlook: Wall Street is expected to open the first day of 2026 with a cautious "wait-and-see" approach. With the holiday spirit fading, professional traders are returning to their desks to re-evaluate portfolios for the new year.

• Key Data Today: The primary economic release is November Construction Spending (10:00 AM ET). While usually a minor data point, any surprise could impact the industrial and real estate sectors.
• The "January Effect": Investors will be watching to see if small-cap stocks (Russell 2000) catch a bid today, as they historically outperform in the first few days of the year.
• Crypto Watch: Bitcoin enters 2026 trading near $88,000, having finished 2025 down roughly 6%. Traders are looking to see if digital assets can find a floor early in Q1.
• NVO Focus: Keep an eye on Novo Nordisk as the market continues to price in the massive potential for its newly approved weight-loss pill.

📞 Strategy Call Assistance

If you require assistance with trade setup, risk management, or strategy review, please schedule a strategy call.

• PREMIUM Plan Members: Strategy calls are included in your plan.
• All Other Members: Strategy calls can be scheduled at a rate of €100 per half hour.

Happy Investing

Share Navigator Support

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Hi there,

Overview: US stocks slipped on Monday as investors moved to lock in gains from a blockbuster year. While the S&P 500 remains up over 17% for 2025, the session was marked by a shift in sentiment as markets digested recent records and prepared for the 2026 outlook. A sharp correction in gold prices also weighed on the materials sector.

📈 Major Indices

• S&P 500: Slipped -0.35%, closing at 6,905.74.
• Nasdaq Composite: Declined -0.50%, ending at 23,474.35.
• Dow Jones Industrial Average: Lost -0.51%, closing at 48,461.93.

🏛️ Bonds, FX & Commodities

• US 10-Year Yield: Declined to 4.115%, its lowest level since early December, as investors sought the safety of government debt.
• US Dollar Index (DXY): Remained steady near 98.40, supported by end-of-year rebalancing.
• Gold: Suffered a sharp correction, falling -4.4% to settle near $4,349.30 per ounce after hitting multiple records last week.
• WTI Crude Oil: Remained under pressure, trading near $55.40 per barrel, maintaining its technical downtrend into the year-end.
• Bitcoin: Saw increased volatility, trading near $88,500 after failing to hold the $90k level during the session.

📊 Specific Stock Performance

• GOOGL (Alphabet Inc.): Down -0.8% (approx. $313.15). Faced profit-taking alongside other mega-cap tech peers after a strong December run.
• META (Meta Platforms): Down -1.1% (approx. $671.15). Underperformed as investors trimmed positions in "2025 winners" ahead of the new year.
• FLTR.L (Flutter Entertainment): Up +0.15% (16,690.00p). Showed resilience in the London session, bucking the downward trend seen in US-listed peers.
• ALK (Alaska Air Group): Down -0.4% ($51.38). Drifted lower in line with the broader industrial sector.
• PFE (Pfizer Inc.): Up +0.3% ($24.95). Caught a minor defensive bid as investors rotated out of high-growth sectors into value laggards.
• STZ (Constellation Brands): Up +0.2% ($135.57). Stabilized after recent underperformance, showing some defensive strength.
• NVO (Novo Nordisk ADR): Down -1.4% ($51.67). Eased back from its recent FDA-fueled surge as part of the broader healthcare sector pull-back.

Today, Tuesday, December 30, is the penultimate trading day of the year. Historically, these sessions can be volatile due to low volume and "window dressing" by fund managers.

📞 Strategy Call Assistance

If you require assistance with trade setup, risk management, or strategy review, please schedule a strategy call.

• PREMIUM Plan Members: Strategy calls are included in your plan.
• All Other Members: Strategy calls can be scheduled at a rate of €100 per half hour.

Happy Investing

Share Navigator Support

www.sharenavigator.ie

Hi there,

🎄 A Christmas Message from Share Navigator

On behalf of everyone here at Share Navigator, we would like to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a happy, peaceful holiday season. We hope you enjoy the well-deserved break and look forward to navigating the markets with you in the New Year!

Market Review for Tuesday, December 23, 2025

Overview: Major stock indexes ended higher for a fourth straight session after delayed third-quarter GDP figures smashed expectations, showing an annualized growth rate of 4.3% (vs. the 3.2% forecast). This "Goldilocks" data—strong growth alongside moderating inflation—pushed the S&P 500 to a new all-time closing high.

📈 Major Indices

• S&P 500: Rose +0.5%, setting a new record closing high.
• Nasdaq Composite: Gained +0.6%, led by continued strength in mega-cap tech and semi-conductors.
• Dow Jones Industrial Average: Added +0.2%, supported by industrial and healthcare giants.

🏛️ Bonds, FX & Commodities

• US 10-Year Yield: Remained relatively stable, closing near 4.17%, as the strong GDP data was balanced by cooling inflation expectations.
• US Dollar Index (DXY): Fell -0.4% to 97.90, helping boost dollar-denominated assets.
• Gold: Rose +1.0% to hit another all-time high of $4,515 per ounce.
• Silver: Set a record for the second day in a row, surging over +4% to $71.60.
• WTI Crude Oil: Tacked on +0.8% to settle at $58.45 per barrel, continuing its five-day winning streak on geopolitical risks.

📊 Specific Stock Performance

• NVO (Novo Nordisk ADR): Surged +7.3% ($51.61). The star of the session, NVO soared after the FDA approved its Wegovy weight-loss pill, a major milestone for the company.
• GOOGL (Alphabet Inc.): Up +1.9%. Gained as tech stocks saw broad institutional inflows following the GDP beat.
• META (Meta Platforms): Up +1.5%. Continued its ascent, benefiting from the broader "risk-on" sentiment in communications and AI.
• FLTR.L (Flutter Entertainment): Up +0.92% (16,595.00p). Saw positive movement in the London session, tracking the global lift in consumer discretionary names.
• ALK (Alaska Air Group): Up +1.1%. Benefited from the strong GDP data, which suggests robust travel demand heading into 2026.
• PFE (Pfizer Inc.): Down -0.4%. Underperformed slightly as investors rotated out of mature pharma into high-growth biotech and NVO.
• STZ (Constellation Brands): Down -0.8%. Remained under pressure as consumer staples continue to lag the high-flying tech and growth sectors.

Stock Market opening hours:
The US stock market will have a shortened session today, Wednesday, December 24, closing early at 1:00 PM ET.

The markets are CLOSED tomorrow, Thursday, December 25, for Christmas Day.

They will reopen for a full session on Friday, December 26.

📞 Strategy Call Assistance

If you require assistance with trade setup, risk management, or strategy review, please schedule a strategy call.

• PREMIUM Plan Members: Strategy calls are included in your plan.
• All Other Members: Strategy calls can be scheduled at a rate of €100 per half hour.

Happy Investing

Share Navigator Support

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Hi there,

Overview: All three major US indices finished higher as the market entered a relatively calm holiday week. The S&P 500 and Dow Jones are now both within 1% of their record closing levels. Geopolitical tensions in the Caribbean and Eastern Europe drove oil and precious metals to fresh heights.

📈 Major Indices

• S&P 500: Rose +0.64%, closing at 6,878.49.
• Nasdaq Composite: Gained +0.52%, ending at 23,428.83.
• Dow Jones Industrial Average: Added +0.47%, closing at 48,362.68.
• Russell 2000: Outpaced large caps with a +1.2% gain.

🏛️ Bonds, FX & Commodities

• US 10-Year Yield: Rose to 4.17% (from Friday's 4.14%), marking its highest level in a week as investors balanced global central bank signals.
• US Dollar Index (DXY): Eased -0.3% to 98.28.
• Gold: Surged nearly +2% to set a new all-time record high of $4,475.40.
• Silver: Also hit a fresh record, climbing to roughly $68.85 per ounce.
• WTI Crude Oil: Jumped +2.6% to settle near $58.01 per barrel on rising U.S.-Venezuela tensions and a tanker "blockade."

📊 Specific Stock Performance

• GOOGL (Alphabet Inc.): Up +1.2% (approx. $317.02). Benefited from news regarding its acquisition of Intersect to expand data center power capacity.
• META (Meta Platforms): Up +0.9% (approx. $678.61). Continued to drift higher alongside mega-cap tech peers in light holiday trading.
• FLTR.L (Flutter Entertainment): Down -0.45% (16,445.00p). Saw minor profit-taking in the London session after a strong close to the previous week.
• ALK (Alaska Air Group): Up +1.25% ($52.25). Gained as the broader industrial sector provided a strong push to the Dow and S&P.
• PFE (Pfizer Inc.): Up +0.35% ($25.27). A quiet but positive session as value stocks caught a minor bid.
• STZ (Constellation Brands): Up +0.15% ($135.50). Stabilized after recent weakness, though it still lagged the broader market rally.
• NVO (Novo Nordisk ADR): Up +0.02% ($48.10). Remained flat during the main session but saw a significant jump in post-market trading (+$4.54) following news of FDA approval for a new GLP-1 pill form.

📞 Strategy Call Assistance

If you require assistance with trade setup, risk management, or strategy review, please schedule a strategy call.

• PREMIUM Plan Members: Strategy calls are included in your plan.
• All Other Members: Strategy calls can be scheduled at a rate of €100 per half hour.

Happy Investing

Share Navigator Support

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Hi there,

Overview: US equities closed sharply higher for a second straight session. The final "Triple Witching" Friday of the year saw massive trading volumes and volatility, but the underlying trend remained positive as investors digested the lowest annual inflation reading since July (2.7%) and strong earnings from key semiconductor players.

📈 Major Indices

• S&P 500: Rose +0.88%, closing at 6,834.50 and erasing its losses for the week.
• Nasdaq Composite: Gained +1.31%, ending at 23,307.62 as AI-related trade showed signs of a strong recovery.
• Dow Jones Industrial Average: Added +0.38%, closing at 48,134.89.

🏛️ Bonds, FX & Commodities

• US 10-Year Yield: Ticked slightly higher to 4.15% (from 4.12%), driven partly by the Bank of Japan raising interest rates to their highest level in 30 years.
• US Dollar Index (DXY): Rose +0.2% to 98.64.
• Gold: Advanced +0.2% to $4,370, maintaining its position near all-time highs.
• WTI Crude Oil: Rose roughly +1% to settle near $56.65 per barrel.
• Natural Gas: Rebounded +2.87% to settle at $4.02 per MMBtu after hitting a seven-week low.

📊 Specific Stock Performance

• GOOGL (Alphabet Inc.): Up +1.46% ($313.26). Gained alongside broader tech strength as the "AI trade" stabilized into the weekend.
• META (Meta Platforms): Up +1.22% ($672.56). Extended its gains as institutional buying remained strong in the communication services sector.
• FLTR.L (Flutter Entertainment): Up +0.85% (16,520.00p). Recovered some of Thursday's minor losses during the London session.
• ALK (Alaska Air Group): Down -0.54% ($51.60). Pulled back slightly after a strong run earlier in the week.
• PFE (Pfizer Inc.): Up +0.44% ($25.18). Caught a modest bid as some value-oriented investors looked for yield in a high-valuation market.
• STZ (Constellation Brands): Down -1.12% ($135.30). Continued to see some pressure as the rotation into growth sectors limited interest in staples.
• NVO (Novo Nordisk ADR): Up +1.51% ($48.33). Rebounded significantly following the previous day's minor dip, catching up to the broader health-tech rally.

📞 Strategy Call Assistance

If you require assistance with trade setup, risk management, or strategy review, please schedule a strategy call.

• PREMIUM Plan Members: Strategy calls are included in your plan.
• All Other Members: Strategy calls can be scheduled at a rate of €100 per half hour.

Happy Investing

Share Navigator Support

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Hi there,

US equities charged higher yesterday following a "Goldilocks" inflation report. The November Consumer Price Index (CPI) showed inflation cooling faster than expected (2.7% vs. 3.1% forecast), providing a massive tailwind for growth stocks and betting on a more aggressive Fed rate-cutting cycle for 2026.

📈 Major Indices

• S&P 500: Surged +1.2%, reclaiming the critical 6,800 level.
• Nasdaq Composite: Jumped +1.6%, leading the charge as growth stocks benefited from plummeting yields.
• Dow Jones Industrial Average: Rose +0.8%, closing at 48,499.27.

🏛️ Bonds, FX & Commodities

• US 10-Year Yield: Tumbled to 4.08%, its lowest level in two weeks, following the cool CPI data.
• US Dollar Index (DXY): Weakened significantly to 97.80, making greenback-priced assets more attractive.
• Gold: Gained +0.7% to trade near $4,330 per ounce, benefiting from the weaker dollar.
• WTI Crude Oil: Rebounded slightly to $56.20 per barrel on improved "soft landing" hopes.

📊 Specific Stock Performance

• GOOGL (Alphabet Inc.): Up +1.93% ($302.46). Strong AI momentum and "buy the dip" institutional flows following the inflation data.
• META (Meta Platforms): Up +2.32% ($664.45). Rebounded sharply as investors viewed it as a top-tier AI winner in a lower-rate environment.
• ALK (Alaska Air Group): Up +1.25% ($51.88). Gained alongside broader industrials as recession fears eased.
• PFE (Pfizer Inc.): Up +0.12% ($25.07). A relatively flat session as investors prioritized high-growth tech over defensive pharma.
• NVO (Novo Nordisk ADR): Down -0.31% ($47.62). Eased slightly despite news that the company filed for FDA approval of its new weight-loss drug CagriSema.
• FLTR.L (Flutter Entertainment): Down -0.67% (16,380.00p). Minor consolidation in the London session after recent tax-related volatility.
• STZ (Constellation Brands): Down -2.07% ($136.83). Underperformed significantly as investors rotated out of defensive consumer staples into high-growth sectors.

Next: The "main event" is happening this morning with the release of the PCE Inflation report (8:30 AM ET). This is the Fed's favorite metric and will dictate if we close the week at new all-time highs.

📞 Strategy Call Assistance

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• PREMIUM Plan Members: Strategy calls are included in your plan.
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Happy Investing

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Hi there,

We just closed out of JDW.L (Weatherspoons) as it hit our target price of £750. We bought the stock January at £604 and received in 12 pence per share in dividends. Total ROI 26.16% in 331 days.

📞 Strategy Call Assistance

If you require assistance with trade setup, risk management, or strategy review, please schedule a strategy call.

• PREMIUM Plan Members: Strategy calls are included in your plan.
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Invest with Confidence

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Hi there,

See below minutes from today's meeting and also the video recording. Feel Free to reach out if you have any questions.

Video Recording

Summary

Stephen Cox provided the holiday schedule, noting the continuation of daily market updates and support via WhatsApp, and outlined changes for the new year regarding option trade alert distribution and platform access via the "knowledge base" and Equity Scan messenger tab.
He analyzed the S&P 500, suggesting a potential bearish double top or head and shoulders pattern and predicting a higher market next year unless a recession is triggered by a selloff in Bitcoin or stocks.
​
Stephen Cox detailed the first trade being lined up for 2026—a speculative short put on SPY—which is currently on hold due to low IV rank, and addressed Pat O'Brien's inquiry about the required account size, leading to a discussion on transforming the trade into a bull put spread for the IBKR 10K account and demonstrating a single-contract trade on the IG index platform with an automated risk management strategy.
Stephen Cox also analyzed the oil market, suggesting trading strategies using USO or micro futures contracts, provided updates on current stock portfolio holdings (Alaska, Flutter, and Weather Spoons), and offered strategies for managing gold positions, including buying put options for protection.

Details

• Holiday Schedule and Support Stephen Cox wished everyone a happy Christmas and prosperous New Year, announcing that this is the last group web meeting of the year, with no scheduled web meetings for the next two weeks. He confirmed that daily market updates and support via WhatsApp will continue, and they would organize an emergency web meeting if market conditions warrant it (00:05:53).
• Changes to Option Trade Alerts and Platform Access Stephen Cox introduced a change for the new year on how option trade alerts will be distributed for both IG Index and IBKR, and how trades will be recorded, accessed, and followed (00:05:53). Participants should log in to the website to access more material, specifically by navigating to the "knowledge base," where a new folder called "trades and portfolios" has been created for the trade templates and logs for the simulated 10K accounts for 2026 options (00:07:03). Logged-in users can also use a messenger tab in the bottom right corner of Equity Scan for quick links to news feeds, including option trades, and to start a conversation with him or schedule a mentoring session (00:09:49).
• S&P 500 Market Analysis and Outlook Stephen Cox discussed the potential for a double top or head and shoulders pattern in the S\&P 500, indicating a bearish sign if the market breaks below the current area (00:11:31). He suggested a retest of the S\&P 500 around 660-650, citing rotation out of the "Mag 7" stocks, which account for a large percentage of the S\&P 500, as the primary culprit for market weakness (00:12:41). Stephen Cox predicted the market would go higher next year, potentially into the mid-700s, unless the US economy goes into a recession, which could be triggered by a selloff in Bitcoin or stocks (00:14:56).
• Lining Up the First Trade: Short Put Strategy Stephen Cox detailed the first trade they are lining up for 2026, a speculative short put on the S\&P 500 (SPY) using the 640 strike for the IBKR 10K account (00:15:54). Although the 92% probability of success and the 6.5% buffer before losing money look favorable, the trade is currently on hold because the premiums are not high enough due to a low IV rank of 11 (00:17:00). Pat O'Brien inquired about the required account size for a single short put contract, which Stephen Cox estimated to be around 20K to manage the margin effectively (00:17:53) (00:19:40).
• IBKR vs. IG Index and Trade Adjustments Stephen Cox demonstrated that on a 10K IBKR account, a single short put would require more margin than available, necessitating the transformation of the trade into a bull put spread to limit risk (00:17:53). He also shared that an algorithm is being developed for IG index accounts to automate the trading strategy, including placing the put option, rolling it out and down under pressure, and stopping out at specific parameters (00:19:40). Using the IG index platform, Stephen Cox demonstrated placing the trade with a bet size of 20 at the 6,400 strike, resulting in a potential tax-free profit of $520 in one month, representing over a 5% return on investment (00:20:34).
• Risk Management and Automation Stephen Cox outlined the risk management strategy for the IG index trade, which involves rolling out to the next month's expiry and down to a lower strike price to adjust the break-even point if the trade comes under pressure (00:22:42). The automatic trigger for rolling the trade will be if the US 500 price gets within 1% of the strike price (e.g., reaching 6,500 for the 6,400 strike) (00:23:46). Stephen Cox emphasized they will document and record all trade actions and updates in the news feed (00:24:53).
• Oil Market Analysis and Trading Strategies Stephen Cox discussed oil prices stabilizing at significant lows not seen since COVID due to factors like lower demand from the struggling Chinese economy, excess supply, and talks of a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia (00:25:50). They suggested trading oil through conservative options like buying USO (an ETF) or by buying riskier call options on USO or the micro futures contract (MCL), going out 60 to 90 days to increase the chance of winning (00:26:53). Trading oil using call options on the IG index platform can also be done, structured as a tax-free bet for UK and Ireland residents, where the bet size dictates potential profit or loss (00:29:59).
• Updates on Stock Portfolio Holdings Stephen Cox provided updates on current stock holdings, noting they are still waiting for Alaska to reach $55 and will hold onto Flutter (00:32:18). They are preparing to sell Weather Spoons once it closes near the target price of 750, with an alert already set. Stephen Cox reminded attendees that updates on the long-term buy and hold portfolio stocks, including their thought process and target prices, are available in Equity Scan (00:33:20).
• Gold Market and Position Management Stephen Cox noted that gold has retested its highs, suggesting that investors who have made significant profits might consider buying put options to protect their position without realizing the profit in the current tax year (00:34:15). They also suggested waiting until January to see if the gold ceiling is broken; if not, selling then and buying back in cheaper later could be an option (00:35:10).

📞 Strategy Call Assistance

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• PREMIUM Plan Members: Strategy calls are included in your plan.
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​

Hi there,

Wednesday, December 17, 2025, was defined by a major divergence in the markets. While "AI concentration fears" triggered a significant pullback in the Nasdaq and S&P 500, a newly announced US oil blockade on Venezuela sent crude oil and gold prices higher.

📈 Equities (Stocks)

US indices ended the day sharply lower as the recent tech-led rally faced a reality check:

• The Nasdaq Composite tumbled -1.81% to close at 22,693.32.
• The S&P 500 fell -1.16% to close at 6,721.43, its fourth consecutive daily loss.
• The Dow Jones Industrial Average declined -0.47%, ending the session at 47,885.96.

Market Movers: The "AI trade" took a hit as investors questioned high valuations. Broadcom (AVGO) dropped nearly -5%, and Nvidia (NVDA) fell -3.8%. However, it wasn't all red: the medical supply distributor Medline (MDLN) made a spectacular Nasdaq debut, surging +40% in its IPO. Micron Technology (MU) also bucked the trend, gaining +3% on positive earnings.

🪙 Crypto

The cryptocurrency market continued to trade like a high-beta risk asset, struggling to find a bottom as institutional outflows persisted.

• Bitcoin (BTC) fell by approximately -1.1%, trading near $86,741. The asset remains under pressure from two straight days of US spot ETF redemptions.
• Ethereum (ETH) followed suit, declining -1.0% to finish near $2,921.
• Despite the price weakness, corporate accumulation remains a theme, with reports showing major firms like Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy) and Fidelity continuing to scoop up Bitcoin during this period of price consolidation.

🏛️ Bonds

US Treasury yields edged higher as the market digested fresh geopolitical risks and comments from Fed officials.

• The yield on the benchmark US 10-Year Treasury note advanced to 4.17%.
• Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller signaled that while a weakening jobs market justifies continued rate cuts, the central bank must remain "careful," which the market interpreted as a slightly more hawkish stance than anticipated.

💰 Commodities

Geopolitics took center stage yesterday, leading to a massive spike in energy and safe-haven metals:

• Brent Crude Oil jumped +2.3% to settle above $60.24 per barrel, and WTI Crude climbed over +1.3%. This was triggered by President Trump's order of a "total and complete blockade" of sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuela.
• Gold (XAU/USD) advanced +0.3% to trade near $4,316 per ounce, approaching its October record.
• Silver stole the show, powering to a new all-time record high above $66 per ounce, up nearly 130% year-to-date, driven by both safe-haven demand and massive industrial appetite from data centers and EVs.

💱 Foreign Exchange (FX)

The US Dollar Index (DXY) rose by +0.3%, benefiting from a combination of safe-haven flows and rising Treasury yields.

• The Euro (EUR) fell -0.2% to $1.1720.
• The Japanese Yen (JPY) weakened significantly, falling -0.5% to 155.46 per dollar.
• The British Pound (GBP) was the weakest major currency, dropping -0.7% to $1.3330.

📞 Strategy Call Assistance

If you require assistance with trade setup, risk management, or strategy review, please schedule a strategy call.

• PREMIUM Plan Members: Strategy calls are included in your plan.
• All Other Members: Strategy calls can be scheduled at a rate of €100 per half hour.

Happy Investing

Share Navigator Support

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