Weekly Market Update

Weekly Market Update for the Grand Protector

The US stock market continues to rally, with all three major indexes notching their fifth consecutive victory as Wall Street enters the Santa Claus rally period. The S&P 500 is up nearly 18% so far this year, while the Nasdaq has paced gains with an over 20% rise in 2025.

Key Highlights:
• US stocks set more records on Wednesday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average leading the way up.
• Gold prices hit another record on Wednesday and are up a sparkly 70% this year.
• Copper prices have also hit another record, with the metal up 30% this year.
• The S&P 500 is on track for its sixth year of 15%-plus gains out of the past seven.
• Bets on interest rate cuts from the Federal Reserve next year continue to shrink.

Investor Insights

Several investing pros shared their thoughts on the surprises of the year, including:
• Stephanie Guild, chief investment officer at Robinhood, expressed surprise that inflation has not been more pronounced.
• Mark Palmer, analyst at The Benchmark Company, noted that blockchain and crypto initiatives have not developed as quickly as expected.

Key Takeaways

The market is ending the year with a strong rally, driven by factors such as low interest rates, a resilient economy, and ongoing tensions in geopolitics. As we look ahead to 2026, investors will need to stay focused on global central banks, growth signals, and emerging technologies.

Recommendations

We recommend keeping an eye on:
• Gold and silver prices, which continue to break records.
• Copper prices, which have surged to new highs.
• The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite indexes, which are on track for solid weekly gains.
• Interest rate expectations, which continue to shift in response to economic data.