Late Stock Rally Meets Record Highs in Gold and Silver  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

December 23, 2025   |   Read Online Not a fan of Fred? Unsubscribe here.   Stocks Rise Late as Investors Balance Risk and Caution Late Stock Rally Meets Record Highs in Gold and Silver December 23, 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 Early Signal Window: 3 Quiet Tickers Are Moving Our scanners just flagged three under-the-radar small-caps showing the same "quiet-before-the-trend" setup: stealth accumulation, coiled technicals, and catalysts lining up. The edge is now—once these hit the feed, it's too late. View Early Alerts By clicking the link above you agree to receive periodic updates from our sponsor. Stocks rise while investors keep one eye on safety. Good Morning, Markets finished higher after a late push, but the signal wasn't all-clear. Stocks found buyers into the close while gold and silver climbed to record levels, showing investors are still hedging their bets. We break down what drove the late rebound, why defensive assets are rising at the same time, and what these mixed signals may say about risk as the year winds down. Gen Z's frustrations with housing and job affordability are shifting political leanings toward GOP deregulation, Nike faces valuation pressure amid weak China sales and dividend doubts, and XRP investors see hopes for a 2025 breakout dashed by ongoing SEC litigation and regulatory headwinds. 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 last week with mixed signals as holiday trading volumes thinned. A retail-driven 'Santa Rally' lifted quantum computing stocks, while broader indices showed restraint amid tariff concerns and policy uncertainty. Here's what moved the needle yesterday. AMC's Losing Streak: AMC Entertainment dropped for the 10th straight session, down over 60% this year, despite a Hycroft Mining investment payoff. → Stocktwits Quantum Stocks Surge: D-Wave, Rigetti, and IonQ rode a retail-fueled rally, with D-Wave up nearly 20% on CES 2026 buzz. → Benzinga Instacart AI Pricing Backlash: Instacart shares slipped 2% after scrapping AI-driven pricing tests due to customer complaints and FTC scrutiny. → Stocktwits 📈 Daily Performance Snapshot Index/Asset Closing Value Change S&P 500 6,878.49 +0.64% Nasdaq 23,428.83 +0.52% Dow Jones 48,362.68 +0.47% Gold $4523.50 +1.21% Crude Oil $58.13 +0.21% Bitcoin $87,736 -2.57% 10-yr Treasury Yield 4.169% +0.43% 🔭 What to Watch Today Today's calendar is packed with economic data that could sway markets in this holiday-shortened week. From GDP revisions to consumer confidence, here's what might move the needle before the Christmas break. Q3 GDP Report (Delayed Release): The first estimate of third-quarter GDP drops today, offering a critical look at economic health. Consensus expects modest growth, but surprises could shift Fed rate expectations. → Benzinga December Consumer Confidence Survey: With retail sales softening, today's update could signal how holiday spending holds up. A weaker-than-expected read may dampen market optimism. → ABC News Weekly Jobless Claims: Labor market trends are under scrutiny with claims data out today. Rising numbers could reinforce slowdown fears ahead of Fed decisions. → Stocktwits 💡 Opportunity Watch Amidst holiday distractions, a few sectors and stocks are showing potential for savvy investors. Whether it's undervalued AI infrastructure or acquisition buzz, here are three areas worth your attention. IREN (AI Infrastructure): This Nvidia-partnered stock is trading significantly below value after a pullback, with a projected $3.4B revenue by 2026 following a $9.7B Microsoft deal. → Benzinga ZIM Integrated Shipping (ZIM): Shares spiked 7.6% pre-market on acquisition proposals, hinting at a potential buyout play for risk-tolerant portfolios. → TheStreet AI Coding Tools (Cursor, Windsurf): Startups like Cursor are seeing 1,000% spending growth among businesses, signaling a breakout niche for AI-driven productivity tools. → Fortune Sponsored Content Invest Before the Crowd — Private Market Edge Our latest report reveals how early-stage investing really works — the access, the risks, and the upside. If you've ever wondered how the big players get in before the headlines, this is a must-read. 📊 Download "From Private to Public" By following the link above or using any of the links provided below, you're choosing to opt in to receive insightful updates from Wealth Creation Investing + 2 free bonus subscriptions! Privacy Policy. 🔥 The Big Bullet Stocks bounced late while gold and silver hit record territory What happened: U.S. stocks finished the day stronger after a late bounce, with tech shares helping lift prices in the final hour. At the same time, gold and silver were reported in record territory, showing that some investors still wanted safety. Trading looked mixed earlier in the day, and several well-known names moved a lot, as seen in the list of stocks making the biggest midday moves. That kind of back-and-forth is common near year-end, when many traders take time off and markets can feel jumpy. Some buyers stepped in late, which can happen when short-term sellers run out of steam. Metals strength alongside rising stocks is unusual, but it can happen when people are unsure about the next few months. Overall, the day's action sent a simple message: risk appetite improved late, but caution did not disappear. Most of the moves were about positioning and sentiment, not one single new data release. Why it matters: Late-day strength can feed the hope of a year-end lift, often called a "Santa Claus rally" in stocks. If that rally shows up, it can improve confidence going into January, which sometimes brings new cash from retirement plans and funds. But record highs in precious metals suggest some investors are still hedging, in case growth slows or politics get messy. A key reason is the big question of whether the economy stays steady after a rough year, which is why the debate about how long strong GDP can last matters. For conservative investors, this mix usually means keeping risk in check and not chasing the last few days of performance. It can also mean watching the balance between "growth" stocks and more defensive areas like utilities or everyday essentials. If metals keep climbing while stocks rise, it may signal more demand for inflation protection or safe assets. Either way, markets are trying to price both a steady economy and potential shocks at the same time. What's next: Watch whether 2026 market leadership shifts away from mega-cap tech, as discussed in the case for a different kind of market leader next year. If investors rotate to other sectors, index returns could look less concentrated and single-stock risk may matter more. Also track how businesses talk about real productivity gains from AI, since Bank of America's CEO says the economic benefit is starting to kick in more. If companies can show cost savings and better service, it may support earnings without needing fast economic growth. On the other hand, if AI spending rises faster than results, investors may get stricter about profits and cash flow. In the near term, thin holiday trading can still cause sharp moves on small headlines. Early January updates, including company guidance and any policy signals, could reset expectations quickly. Most investors should focus on what changes in the story, not just what happens in one quiet week. Breaks down the seasonal pattern known as the Santa Claus rally, showing when it happens, how often it's occurred historically and what typical market forces might drive it, including holiday liquidity and tax-related trading behavior. – The Motley Fool The broader shift where money has started to move away from high-flying tech and AI stocks into more traditional sectors with solid cash flows, a theme tied to diversification and risk management. – Financial Content The combination of interest-rate hopes, dollar weakness, central bank buying, industrial demand and inflation concerns that are pushing precious metals and commodities upward. – Investopedia Reader Feedback Yesterday I asked you: When a stock jumps on buyout news like this, what do you usually do? The majority of you at 32% said "Hold — wait to see if the deal really happens" Andrew from Virginia replied: "I usually hold the stock and wait to see if the deal really goes through." Here's what I'm asking you today: Which message do you trust more right now? 📈 The stock market rally — risk is back 🪙 Rising gold and silver — trouble ahead 🤷 Both matter — the market is confused 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 Gen Z affordability concerns: Housing and job market woes are pushing Gen Z toward Republican policies, with Trump's deregulation plans eyed as a fix. → Daily Signal Nike's Valuation Woes: Nike downgraded to 'sell' as dividends look unsustainable and China sales tank 17%, despite a 1% revenue uptick. → Seeking Alpha XRP's $10 Dream Deferred: XRP holders face an 8% YTD loss as SEC litigation and regulatory delays crush hopes for a breakout in 2025. → Benzinga 📜 This Day in History – December 23 December 23 is a date for institutional glue — the kinds of decisions, launches, and standards that don't trend on day one but quietly hold systems together for decades. 1913 – The U.S. Federal Reserve Act was signed into law, creating a central bank that would become the quiet shock absorber of modern financial markets. 1898 – Russia completed key sections of the Trans-Siberian Railway, compressing a continent and turning distance into a solvable engineering problem. 1953 – The NTSC color television standard was approved in the U.S., proving once again that markets run on compatibility almost as much as innovation. 1990 – Tim Berners-Lee formally proposed the World Wide Web project, sketching a simple information architecture that would scale into the backbone of the digital economy. Today's Trivia What is the primary goal of economic regulation? A) To eliminate competition entirely B) To correct market failures and protect consumers or the economy C) To increase profits for all businesses D) To replace markets with government planning Yesterday, 87% of you chose the right answer to the trivia question: They raise the price of imported goods, often protecting domestic producers My formula for success is rise early, work late, and strike oil. – JP Getty 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