🎢 Markets Open Friday Session After Thursday's Mixed Close

😎 Market Vibes

🎢 Markets Open Friday Session After Thursday's Mixed Close

Friday's opening bell brings traders back for the final session of the week, with major indices looking to build on Thursday's mixed performance. According to Yahoo Finance historical data, Thursday saw the S&P 500 close at 6,857.12 (up 0.11%), the Nasdaq at 23,505.14 (up 0.22%), and the Dow at 47,850.94 (down 0.07%). NYSE data showed the Russell 2000 gained 0.76% to close at 2,531.16.

The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX), often called the "fear gauge," closed Thursday at 15.78 according to FRED data, reflecting relatively muted market anxiety. Investing.com tracks the VIX's daily movements as a measure of market expectations for near-term volatility.

Friday's session will include key economic data releases that could influence market direction and Fed rate expectations. The market's caught in that awkward phase where it can't decide if good economic news is actually good news, or if it's bad news because it means the Fed might keep rates higher for longer. It's the kind of morning where traders are simultaneously caffeinated and confused - like trying to read the Fed's tea leaves while someone keeps switching out the tea.

_^[sponsored]
Our partners at Elite Trade Club understand this market confusion all too well. That's why they created their daily newsletter designed to cut through the noise without wasting your time. In just 5 minutes every morning, you'll discover what's driving the market, spot potential trades early, and stay informed effortlessly. Join 170,000+ traders who rely on Elite Trade Club to stay ahead. Click here to sign up now - it's free!
_{^{(By clicking the link, you agree to join Elite Trade Club emails and unlock complimentary insights from select partners. Privacy Policy here.)}}

📈 Bitcoin Consolidates Around $95K Level

Bitcoin traded in the mid-$90,000s this morning according to Yahoo Finance crypto data, with StatMuse showing Bitcoin closing at $98,877.77 on December 5, 2024, up 0.2% for the day. After flirting with six figures earlier this week, the leading cryptocurrency appears to be consolidating - which in crypto terms means only experiencing single-digit percentage swings instead of the usual double-digit roller coaster.

The broader crypto market mirrored Bitcoin's cautious action. According to CoinMarketCap historical data, Ethereum traded around $3,187, while most altcoins remained in tight ranges. Fortune reported Bitcoin at $103,135.58 at 9 AM Eastern time, noting a difference of +7.7% from the previous day. The cryptocurrency remained well above the psychologically important $90K level throughout the session.

CoinMarketCap notes market participants continue monitoring institutional demand patterns and exchange-traded fund flows, which have been supporting prices even as some retail participants take profits after the recent rally.

^_[sponsored]
At this point, anyone sleeping on the crypto market is in for a major shocker. Take Bitcoin for example... As you read this, the asset has a market cap that rivals the top companies on the planet. But here's where things get interesting: Our partners at ProsperityPub are claiming there's a way you can target your own slice of the crypto pie without owning a single coin! It's a little-known loophole they’ve been working on for a while, and there's no better time than now to reveal it to you. That's exactly why they just finished putting this special broadcast together.

Go here now to get your login link... 
^{_{By clicking the link above you agree to periodic updates from ProsperityPub and its partners (privacy policy)}}

^_[sponsored]

Would you like to get a clear action plan every morning… right as the market kicks off?

That’s what The Playbook sessions are all about. Every trading day, Graham Lindman and Nate Tucci go live to walk hundreds of traders like you through what’s happening right now in the market… And how to take actionable trades to target opportunities. Graham and Nate, with more than 3 decades of market experience, break down the biggest catalysts of the day, show which stocks are primed for big moves, and map out how they’re planning to trade them… all in real time. Tap here to get the FULL brief… along with the #1 trade of the day.

🤖 Tech Sector Sees Mixed Action Amid Metaverse News

The technology sector showed mixed performance during Thursday's session, with major news breaking about Meta Platforms' strategic shift. Bloomberg reported that CEO Mark Zuckerberg is planning budget cuts as high as 30% for the metaverse group next year, which includes Meta Horizon Worlds and the Quest virtual reality unit. Reuters confirmed the cuts would most likely include layoffs as early as January, noting that Reality Labs has lost more than $70 billion since the start of 2021.

TechCrunch explained the move reflects an overall lack of interest in products like Meta's social virtual reality platform Horizon Worlds, as well as its virtual reality hardware - both in the industry at large and among consumers. Fox Business reported that Meta confirmed it is "shifting some of our investment from the metaverse toward AI glasses and wearables given the momentum there."

Yahoo Finance reported Meta stock jumped over 3% on the news. Virtual Reality News noted the stock jumped 5.7%, suggesting market participants welcomed the company's pivot toward more immediately profitable ventures. SiliconANGLE reported the company could potentially lay off between 10% and 30% of employees in the metaverse unit.

According to TipRanks, Tesla shares remained elevated after gaining 4.08% to $446.95 on December 4 following news that the Trump administration is preparing policy initiatives for the robotics industry. CoinCentral confirmed the Commerce Secretary met with CEOs about the robotics push, which also coincided with a 9.9% jump in Tesla's China sales for November.

CNBC detailed how Alphabet's two-day 11% rally earlier in December was driven by the company's quantum computing chip announcement, which it described as a "breakthrough" with potential applications in drug discovery, battery design and other areas. The report noted that tech's seven trillion-dollar companies added roughly $416 billion in market cap during that session.

^_[sponsored]
Our partners at InvestorPlace have identified something that could potentially impact the AI realm... Nvidia gave investors a chance to make more than 150 times their money with its AI chips known as graphic processing units. Legendary investor Louis Navellier believes this new invention could be even more revolutionary and mint a new wave of millionaires.

Click here to get the details.

🏆 Gold Pulls Back from Record Territory

Gold prices eased from recent highs, trading around $2,650 per ounce according to GoldPrice.org data, as the dollar strengthened and Treasury yields ticked higher. Exchange-rates.org confirmed the precious metal reached an all-time high of $2,786.91 on October 30, 2024, with an average price of $2,389.18 for the full year.

StatMuse data shows gold closing at $2,623.81 on December 31, 2024, marking a gain of 27.1% for the full year. The precious metal's performance has been remarkably strong according to World Gold Council market data, which tracks global price movements and institutional demand patterns.

Central bank buying continues supporting prices, with countries diversifying reserves away from dollars at a notable pace. Trading Economics reports the year-to-date gain of 27.08% represents one of gold's strongest annual performances in recent years. Investing.com historical data tracks these long-term trends showing the metal's progression throughout the year.

^_[sponsored]
Our partners at Big Trends have something exclusive for you:

Few stocks move like NVDA. That's why they created the NVDA Options Master Playbook — a free guide to trading its weekly options with discipline and precision. Inside, you'll discover:

• The two chart timeframes that trigger trades

• How we use weekly expirations to maximize opportunity

• Risk management rules that keep losses contained

[Get your free Playbook today]
^{_{(by clicking you agree to receive communications from BigTrends, privacy policy here)}}

^_[sponsored]

Up to 10x Returns From the AI Energy Boom?

If you 10x'd the oil market during the last energy boom, you could've turned $1,000 into $47,000. Now artificial intelligence is driving a new boom in American energy that could be worth $7 trillion. A former money manager for Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund is stepping forward with the best way to play this incredible energy boom. This has nothing to do with buying a stock, a crypto, or overhyped (and underwhelming) royalty deals. It's an overlooked strategy with incredible upside potential and the unique ability to insulate you from the boom/bust cycle. Click here now to learn more.

🔥 Fed Rate Path Remains Hot Topic

The Federal Reserve's next move remains a subject of intense market focus, with market participants weighing recent economic data against Fed officials' commentary. According to Yahoo Finance, market participants are pricing in an 89% probability of a rate cut at the December meeting per the CME FedWatch tool, after softer employment data.

Labor Department data showed initial jobless claims unexpectedly fell to 191,000 for the week ending November 29, their lowest level in three years and well below estimates of 219,000 claims. Schwab's market analysis notes that job cuts rose 23% from November 2024, providing evidence of mixed labor market conditions.

CNBC reported Treasury yields rose on December 4 as market participants continued evaluating the likelihood of a December rate cut. The 10-year Treasury yield tracked by the St. Louis Fed showed movements in response to economic data releases. The Federal Reserve's H.15 Selected Interest Rates provides official daily Treasury yield data from the U.S. Treasury Department.

J.P. Morgan's analysis notes that 10-year yields have moved over 100 basis points higher than their September lows even as the Fed has been lowering rates - an unusual pattern compared to previous cutting cycles. Bloomberg Markets tracks current rates and bond movements across the Treasury curve.

Market pricing currently suggests high odds of a December rate cut, though recent economic data has been mixed. Market participants continue parsing economic datapoints and Fed speaker remarks for signals about the policy path forward.

^_[sponsored]
Our partners at StockEarnings know AI headlines are everywhere… but they’re claiming the real money is being made behind the scenes. While retail traders chase hype, hedge funds are rotating into the hardware layer powering AI itself. Their new research reveals three U.S. companies leading this quiet surge. These aren’t speculative startups, they're profitable infrastructure giants fueling AI’s next trillion-dollar phase.

👉 Access your premium research report now.
_{^{(**By clicking this link you agree to receive emails from StockEarnings and our affiliates. You can opt out at any time.  Privacy Policy. **)}}

💪 Small-Cap Stocks Show Strength

The Russell 2000 Index, which measures the performance of approximately 2,000 small-cap U.S. equities according to LSEG (London Stock Exchange Group), showed continued strength during Thursday's session. Yahoo Finance data shows the Russell 2000 closed at 2,531.16, up 0.76% for the day. NYSE intraday data showed the index trading around 2,528 (+0.6%) during the session.

Seeking Alpha reported the Russell 2000 notched a record close on Thursday, underscoring recent strength in the small-cap segment. The gauge has now outperformed the blue-chip large-cap Dow, though it still lags the benchmark S&P 500.

Wikipedia notes the Russell 2000 represents approximately 7% of the total market capitalization of the Russell 3000 Index, with a weighted average market cap of approximately $3.65 billion as of December 31, 2024. The Motley Fool explains the index is widely considered the benchmark for smaller U.S. stocks and is the most widely used index of small-cap stocks.

CME Group reports that E-mini Russell 2000 futures have averaged 225,000 contracts per day through May 2024, representing $22.5 billion in notional value. Investing.com shows the Russell 2000 has ranged from 1,732.99 to 2,541.67 over the past 52 weeks.

^_[sponsored]

Retail traders have a wrong expectation of the market

Most traders who lose their money to the market are usually counting on huge daily market moves. The reality however is, unless there's some major financial or political event… You'd likely not see anything higher than a 1% move. But when you trade the way I do… A 1% move is more than enough to target healthy payouts from the market – every single trading day. And with these trades only running for less than 24 hours… You can very easily take your payouts the very next morning! There are no guarantees when it comes to trading…But if you'd like to learn how to find daily trading opportunities with the power to deliver next-day payouts EVEN when the market moves at 1% or less! Head on over here now to get started.

🎬 Bottom Line

Thursday's market action reflects a financial system navigating multiple crosscurrents: Meta's strategic pivot away from the metaverse toward AI and wearables, Tesla's robotics-driven momentum, mixed economic data, small-cap strength, and a Federal Reserve working to balance competing objectives. Market participants aren't making aggressive directional bets right now - they're evaluating more clarity on the Fed's path forward and whether corporate earnings can justify current valuations.

Market observers continue monitoring economic indicators, Fed communications, and corporate earnings for signals about the path ahead. In an environment characterized by mixed signals and competing narratives, market participants note that careful attention to risk management and portfolio diversification remain important considerations.

🔥 What’s Heating Up This Week

Markets are moving - here's whats heating up with our partners:

• How to Claim Your Stake in SpaceX with $500 ^[ad]

• The NVDA, AMZN, TSLA selloff on the horizon ^[ad]

• This single force has shaped 140 years of market history ^[ad]

✌️ Thanks for vibing with us.

⚠️ WARNING: Market data is subject to rapid change. Verify current information before making trading decisions.

DISCLAIMER: Stocks and options trading have large potential rewards, but also large potential risk. You must be aware of the risks and be willing to accept them in order to invest in the stocks and options markets. Don't trade with money you can't afford to lose. This is neither a solicitation nor an offer to Buy/Sell stocks or options. No representation is being made that any account will or is likely to achieve profits or losses similar to those discussed in the linked report. The past performance of any trading system or methodology is not necessarily indicative of future results. All trades, patterns, charts, systems, etc., discussed in the linked report are for illustrative purposes only and not to be construed as specific advisory recommendations. Information contained in this correspondence is intended for informational purposes only and was obtained from sources believed to be reliable. Information is in no way guaranteed. No guarantee of any kind is implied or possible where projections of future conditions are attempted. For full disclaimer information, click here.