Silver's Rally Is Impressive, But Not Without Risk  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

December 29, 2025   |   Read Online Not a fan of Fred? Unsubscribe here.   Silver's Sudden Surge Tests Investor Nerves Silver's Rally Is Impressive, But Not Without Risk December 29, 2025 MorningBullets is the fastest way to catch up on the market and political news that matter most to your money. Quick takes, sharp insight, and curated opportunities—served fresh every weekday morning. Sponsored Content Before It Hits Screens: 3 Small-Cap Setups Just Triggered Three small-cap tickers are flashing early signals—unusual flow, tight charts near breakout levels, and quiet catalysts forming. This is the same pre-crowd window that led to prior outsized runs. We're finishing the breakdown now; alert-list readers get first access. Unusual flow & early accumulation Structures tightening near breakout zones Catalysts building under the surface Get the Report By clicking the link above you agree to receive periodic updates from our sponsor. A sudden surge in silver highlights shifting market risk Good Morning, Markets are ending the year with mixed signals. Stocks continue to grind higher, but sharp moves in silver are flashing a note of caution. A late-year surge briefly pushed the metal to record levels before pulling back just as fast. We break down what drove the rally, why it matters for investors watching inflation and risk appetite, and what this sudden reversal may be signaling beneath the surface. If you're indexed to the S&P or looking for clues beyond equities, this one is worth your time. The IRS raises 2026 retirement contribution limits to help savers combat inflation, California's proposed billionaire tax sparks backlash from tech leaders warning of capital flight, and New York City officially retires the MetroCard in favor of OMNY contactless payments—cutting costs but raising privacy concerns. Don't forget to voice your opinion in my polls below. Here are your Morning Bullets. – Truly yours, Fred Frost 📈 Yesterday's Market Recap Markets closed with cautious optimism yesterday as November's CPI data came in softer than expected at 2.7% annually, though data quirks from the shutdown raised eyebrows. The S&P 500 eked out a modest gain, while tech stocks like Nvidia ticked up on acquisition buzz. Here's what moved the needle. S&P 500 Edges Higher: The index rose 0.5% as cooler inflation data fueled hopes of rate relief, though economists remain skeptical of the report's reliability. → CNBC Nvidia Gains on Acquisition News: Shares climbed 1% midday after a $20 billion deal to acquire Groq assets, signaling aggressive AI expansion. → Investopedia Mining Stocks Rally: Freeport-McMoRan and others gained nearly 3% as gold, silver, and copper hit record highs, buoyed by commodity demand. → CNBC 📉 Daily Performance Snapshot Index/Asset Closing Value Change S&P 500 6,929.94 -0.03% Nasdaq 23,593.10 -0.09% Dow Jones 48,710.97 -0.04% Gold $4446.10 -2.34% Crude Oil $58.14 +2.47% Bitcoin $87,126 -0.81% 10-yr Treasury Yield 4.116% -0.48% 🔭 What to Watch Today Today's calendar brings a mix of corporate earnings and geopolitical developments that could sway markets. Keep an eye on these events for potential volatility or opportunity. Obook Holdings H1 Earnings (After Close): The company reports results today, with shares already down 2.1% last week. Investors will scrutinize for growth signals. → Benzinga China AI Chatbot Regulation Feedback: Ongoing public comment on proposed emotional AI rules could impact tech giants like Z.ai and Minimax ahead of IPOs. → CNBC South Korea Climate vs. Trade Tension: Watch for updates on U.S. trade talks pressuring LNG imports, clashing with ambitious 2040 coal reduction goals. → ABC News 💡 Opportunity Watch Amidst market noise, a few themes stand out for 2026 potential. From policy shifts to sector trends, here are actionable ideas worth your attention. Private Equity Clearout (PE Firms): With a $880 billion cash pile and a 2026 exit surge expected, private equity could unlock value in IPOs like SpaceX. Watch for deal flow. → Benzinga Classic Car Market (Investment): Hagerty predicts strong 2026 growth in classic cars, with online sales up 12%. High-performance 1990s supercars could be a unique asset play. → CNBC Stablecoin Expansion (Crypto): Post-GENIUS Act, stablecoin market cap hit $300 billion. Growth to $4 trillion by 2030 could offer fintech exposure, despite regulatory risks. → World Finance Sponsored Content Inside Crypto's Q4 2025 "Point of No Return" From 600 interviews: the catalyst to watch, the hidden pattern top earners use, and why this cycle could outpace 2017 and 2021. Get Crypto Revolution free—plus bonus guides. 📥 Download Free + Bonuses By clicking the link above you agree to receive periodic updates from our sponsor. 🔥 The Big Bullet Silver's Record Year-End Rally Cools After Topping $80 an Ounce What happened: Silver prices just cooled off after a sharp, year-end surge. Over the past week, the metal climbed for six straight trading days and even traded above $80 an ounce in a historic move. A report on silver's record rally notes that one session alone brought a gain of about 10%, the biggest jump since 2008. After that spike, many traders locked in profits, and prices pulled back from the highs. Even so, silver is still well above where it traded earlier in the year, showing how fast money rushed into the trade. Thin holiday trading can make swings larger, because fewer buyers and sellers are active in the market. That kind of low-volume environment often rewards short-term speculators and leaves long-term investors feeling uneasy. Professional managers in diversified commodity funds, like those discussed in a recent Invesco balanced-risk commodity strategy commentary, tend to see such extreme moves as a reason to revisit their exposure and risk limits. Why it matters: Silver is used in factories and also held as a store of value, so big price jumps can signal stress or greed in the system. When a key asset runs up this quickly, it may show that some investors fear inflation, currency problems, or future market shocks. At the same time, U.S. stocks have been strong, with the S&P 500 still up for the week even after a soft day, according to a recent summary of index moves and sentiment. That report also notes that a popular "fear and greed" gauge remains in the greed zone, which means many traders are still willing to take risk. Another MarketWatch outlook on a possible fourth straight year of strong stock returns asks whether this rally can keep going into 2026. When both equities and metals surge together, it can be a sign that easy money and optimism are doing more work than solid cash flows or earnings. For cautious investors, that combination argues for slower moves, more diversification, and a clear plan for how much loss they can handle if prices swing the other way. It also reminds people that big gains near year-end can fade quickly if the new year brings weaker data, policy surprises, or simple buyer fatigue. What's next: The next test for silver will come when full trading resumes after the holidays and more investors return to their desks. If fresh buying shows up, the metal could settle into a higher range; if not, prices may drift back toward earlier levels. Global stock markets already look cautious, with Asian shares trading in different directions after a quiet post-Christmas session on Wall Street, as described in a recent report on Asian markets. For metals and stocks alike, the path of interest rates will be a key driver, because higher real yields can pull money away from non-yielding assets like silver. Debates over how active the Federal Reserve should be, including calls for a "backseat Fed" covered in a recent piece on central bank politics, may shape those rate expectations. Investors will also watch economic data on growth, jobs, and inflation to see whether the soft-landing story still holds. If the news stays calm and policy makers avoid surprises, volatility in silver and stocks could ease, giving long-term investors time to rebalance. But if shocks hit, this recent spike is a reminder that crowded trades in "safe" assets can unwind quickly, hurting anyone who chased the move without a plan. What pushed silver to fresh highs, including strong industrial and investment demand, shrinking inventories, geopolitical tensions, and expectations that U.S. interest rates may be cut. – Reuters Why even strong rallies can encounter pullbacks. It covers concerns like overbought conditions, higher margin requirements, dollar strength, and trade licensing changes that could tighten supply – Market Watch Reader Feedback Last week I asked you: Which message do you trust more right now? The majority of you at 50% said "🤷 Both matter — the market is confused" Olivia from Kansas replied: "I think both messages matter right now because the market doesn't seem sure what's really happening." Here's what I'm asking you today: Which statement best matches how you feel about silver's sudden price jump? It's a warning sign that markets are getting overheated It's a smart hedge if inflation comes back It's mostly short-term hype and trading noise Not sure / No opinion Other As always if your opinion is not here, or you want to throw your two cents at me, reply to the E-mail, and let me know your exact thoughts. 🧭 Policy & Market Ripples IRS Boosts 2026 Retirement Limits: Contribution limits rise to $24,500 for 401(k)s and $7,500 for IRAs, a win for savers facing rising costs. Catch-up contributions also increase. → Fox Business California Wealth Tax Backlash: Tech founders like Peter Thiel oppose a proposed 5% billionaire tax, warning of asset sales and exodus. Innovation and jobs hang in balance. → Fortune MetroCard Retires in NYC: By December 31, NYC transit fully shifts to OMNY contactless payments, saving $20 million annually. Some riders wary of data privacy. → AP News 📜 This Day in History – December 29 December 29 has an end-of-ledger quality to it — patents filed, companies launched, and institutions formalized just before the calendar closes. It's history doing year-end housekeeping, with long-term consequences. 1947 – Bell Labs scientists demonstrated the transistor, a modest-looking device that would quietly underwrite the entire digital economy. 1899 – The Coca-Cola Company granted its first nationwide bottling rights, a distribution decision that turned a beverage into a global logistics brand. 1919 – The International Astronomical Union was formally established, standardizing celestial nomenclature and proving that even science needs governance to scale. 2001 – Wikipedia's foundational infrastructure was quietly coming online, setting the stage for a radically open — and radically scalable — knowledge commons. Today's Trivia What does the term cost-benefit analysis refer to? A) Comparing prices across different markets B) Weighing the expected benefits of a decision against its expected costs C) Calculating the total profit of a company D) Measuring consumer satisfaction Last week, 84% of you chose the right answer to the trivia question: To correct market failures and protect consumers or the economy Inflation is when you pay fifteen dollars for the ten-dollar haircut you used to get for five dollars when you had hair. – Sam Ewing Thanks for Reading. Stay Sharp. Stay Focused. Fredrick Frost Editor, MorningBullets   Update your email preferences or unsubscribe here © 2025 Morning Bullets 20 North Orange Ave. Floor 11 Orlando, Florida 32801, United States of America Terms of Service