In an exclusive interview with The Wall Street Journal, President Trump revealed he is leaning toward nominating either former Fed governor Kevin Warsh or National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett as the next Federal Reserve Chairman. Trump emphasized that his choice must be willing to lower interest rates and consult with him on monetary policy.Key Takeaways:Top Contenders: Trump confirmed that Kevin Warsh and Kevin Hassett are at the top of his list, referring to them as "the two Kevins." While Hassett was recently viewed as the front-runner, Trump stated that Warsh remains a top candidate.Consultation on Rates: Breaking from recent tradition, Trump believes the next Fed Chair should consult with the President on interest rate decisions. He argued, "I’m a smart voice and should be listened to."Aggressive Rate Cuts: Trump outlined a desire for significantly lower borrowing costs, stating he wants interest rates to be at 1% or lower a year from now to help reduce the cost of financing the $30 trillion national debt.Litmus Test for Warsh: During a recent meeting, Trump reportedly pressed Warsh on whether he could be trusted to support interest-rate cuts. Trump noted in the interview, “He thinks you have to lower interest rates.”Past Regrets: Trump expressed frustration over his 2017 appointment of current Chair Jerome Powell, stating he was given a "bad recommendation" at the time and wants to be more careful with this selection.Other Potential Candidates: While focused on Warsh and Hassett, the administration has also vetted current Fed governors Christopher Waller and Michelle Bowman.Polymarket's had Hassett as the favorite at the mid 80% last week, but that number has been reduced to 66% currently. Warsh meanwhile has moved up to 31% This article was written by Greg Michalowski at investinglive.com.

A Week of Two HalvesThe USDJPY has settled the North American session marginally higher on the day, capping off a week defined by up-and-down volatility.The Lows: Sellers controlled the early action, pushing the price to a weekly low of 154.89 during Monday's session.The Highs: Buyers fought back mid-week, driving the pair to a peak of 156.95 late Tuesday into early Wednesday.The Settle: As the dust settles, the price is currently trading near 155.81. Interestingly, this is almost perfectly aligned with the 155.92 midpoint of the entire week's trading range, signaling a market in equilibrium as traders head into the weekend.The Technical Battleground: 100 vs. 200 Hour MAsHeading into the new trading week, the technical picture is tightening. The price is currently "squeezed" between two critical technical indicators on the hourly chart. These moving averages will act as the primary barometers for sentiment:Resistance (The Ceiling): The 100-hour moving average is currently sitting just above at 156.06.Support (The Floor): The 200-hour moving average is providing immediate support below at 155.68.The proximity of these two levels suggests a breakout is imminent. Whichever line breaks first will likely dictate the directional bias for the start of next week.Next Week's Game Plan: Key Levels to WatchTraders should watch the break of this moving average "sandwich" to define their risk and targets.The Bullish Scenario:Trigger: If the price moves and stays above the 100-hour moving average (156.06), the bullish bias increases.Target 1: Momentum to the upside would have traders targeting the resistance zone between 156.57 – 156.73.Target 2: A break there opens the door for a retest of the weekly high near 156.95.The Bearish Scenario:Trigger: If the price moves and stays below the 200-hour moving average (155.68), the bearish bias takes control.Target 1: Downside momentum would initially target the psychological 155.00 level.Target 2: A break below that handle exposes the swing area between 154.40 and 154.47.Watch the Video Analysis: In the video above, I (Greg Michalowski, author of Attacking Currency Trends) break down the technical factors driving the move, outline where the risk is, and map out the next targets that matter most for USDJPY traders.Be aware. Be prepared. This article was written by Greg Michalowski at investinglive.com.

Weekly Price ActionCrude oil futures settled the week on a soft note, closing at $57.44, down $0.16 or -0.28% for the day. For the week, the commodity saw significant selling pressure:Weekly Change: Down -4.54%, a decline of $3.12.The Highs: The week’s high was reached on Monday at $60.30.The Lows: Sellers pushed the price to a weekly low of $57.01 during Thursday's trade.The Fundamental StoryThe sharp 4.5% drop this week was driven by a "perfect storm" of bearish supply data and easing geopolitical risk premiums that overpowered localized disruptions.The Supply Glut Narrative: The primary weight on prices this week was the growing consensus of a massive supply surplus heading into 2026. The International Energy Agency (IEA) released a report forecasting a record oil glut for next year, driven by surging production from non-OPEC nations (like the U.S. and Canada) outpacing global demand.Geopolitical Risk Fade (Ukraine): Traders began removing the "war premium" from oil prices as peace talks regarding Ukraine gained traction. Reports that the White House is sending a representative to Europe for negotiations signaled a potential de-escalation, which reduced the fear of sudden supply shocks from the region.Production Restorations: Adding to the bearish supply picture, Iraq successfully restored production at a key oilfield that accounts for roughly 0.5% of global supply, further easing tightness in the physical market.Limited Support from Disruptions: There were bullish factors, but they failed to turn the tide. The U.S. seized a Venezuelan oil tanker, and Ukraine struck another vessel in Russia's "shadow fleet," but market participants largely ignored these supply threats, focusing instead on the broader macro picture of oversupply.Technical Analysis: Testing Critical SupportThe price action is currently testing a critical floor on the hourly chart, focusing on a low swing area between $57.10 and $57.39. This zone is now the "line in the sand" for near-term direction.The Bearish Scenario (Breakdown):Trigger: Getting and staying below the $57.10 - $57.39 support zone would significantly increase the bearish bias.Target: A confirmed break here would have traders looking toward the October low at $55.96 as the next major downside objective.The Bullish Scenario (Hold & Bounce):Trigger: If the price can hold support in this swing area, buyers may look to rotate back higher.Target: The immediate upside target is $58.13.Key Resistance: Traders must also watch the falling 100-hour moving average, currently at $58.28, which is moving quickly toward that $58.13 level and will act as a stiff ceiling for any recovery. This article was written by Greg Michalowski at investinglive.com.

Bullish Momentum Extends for a Third WeekThe AUDUSD moved higher for the third consecutive week, extending to its highest level since September 17th. This upside momentum began after the pair bottomed on November 21 near the high of a swing area between 0.6407 and 0.6424.During this run, the pair successfully cleared a series of critical technical hurdles, including:The 200-day and 100-day Moving Averages.The 50% retracement level.The 61.8% retracement at 0.6597.The Current Range: Resistance vs. SupportThis week, the price extended above a swing area between 0.66247 and 0.6635, reaching a weekly high of 0.66845. However, buyers ran out of steam just short of the key September 17 targets at 0.6688 and 0.67064, causing the price to rotate lower.The Retest: The pullback took the price right back to the breakout zone between 0.66247 and 0.6635. Buyers stepped in at this level to defend the trend, pushing price back to the upside.Defining the Borderlines: Heading into the close, the price is effectively trapped between two clear technical boundaries:Support: The swing area down to 0.66247.Resistance: The swing area cap at 0.66888.A break of either level is required to give control to the buyers or sellers in the short term.Scenarios: Next Targets to WatchThe Bearish Case (Downside Risk):On a break below 0.66247, traders will look toward the 61.8% retracement at 0.6597.A move below that level opens the door to the 50% midpoint at 0.6563.The Bullish Case (Topside Breakout):On a break above 0.6688, the high price from September at 0.6706 is the obvious target to get to—and through.If that level is cleared, I would expect accelerated upside momentum, potentially challenging the highest levels of the year and levels not seen since October 2024.Watch the Video Analysis: In the video above, I (Greg Michalowski, author of Attacking Currency Trends) break down the technical factors driving the move, outline where the risk is, and map out the next targets that matter most for AUDUSD traders.Be aware. Be prepared. This article was written by Greg Michalowski at investinglive.com.

A Strong 3-Week RecoveryThe NZDUSD is up for the third week in a row after bottoming on November 21 at 0.55758. The move to the upside has taken the pair to a high this week of 0.5830, representing a significant recovery over the last 16 trading days:Price Change: +254 pipsPercentage Change: +4.56%The Technical Battle: 100-Day Moving AverageThis week's rally briefly extended above the 100-day moving average at 0.58025—the first time price has traded above this level since September 18. However, the momentum hit a wall near a cluster of key resistance levels.Where Sellers Stepped In: The run to the upside stalled near the low of a swing area between 0.5830 and 0.58442. Crucially, it also failed just ahead of the 50% midpoint of the move from the July 1 high to the November low, which comes in at 0.58476.After reaching a high of 0.5830 yesterday, sellers leaned against resistance and pushed the price modestly lower. While the pair dipped back below the 100-day moving average, the decline stalled ahead of the broken 38.2% retracement level at 0.5783.Current Setup & Key LevelsHeading into the end of the week and the new trading session, traders will be treating the 100-day moving average (0.58025) and the 0.5800 natural level as the barometer for the next directional move.The Bullish Scenario (Topside Targets):Buyers need to push back above 0.5830 and clear the 0.58476 (50% midpoint) level to gain confidence.A break above that zone would have traders looking toward the 200-day moving average at 0.58677 as a major confirming signal for a sustained bullish trend.The Bearish Scenario (Downside Risks):If the tilt shifts to the downside and price breaks back below the 38.2% retracement at 0.5783, the bias weakens.Traders would then target the swing area at 0.5753, followed by the rising 100-bar moving average on the 4-hour chart at 0.5722.Watch the Video Analysis: In the video above, I (Greg Michalowski, author of Attacking Currency Trends) break down the technical factors driving the move, outline where the risk is, and map out the next targets that matter most for NZDUSD traders.Be aware. Be prepared. This article was written by Greg Michalowski at investinglive.com.

With the Dow industrial average down -0.47%, the S&P down -1.36% and the NASDAQ index down -2.0%, the European declines today are modest. The UK's FTSE 100 led the declines, likely weighed down by earlier reports that the UK economy unexpectedly shrank in October.A snapshot of the closing levels shows the:European Market Close SummaryKey Drivers for the Day:UK Weakness: The FTSE 100 underperformed its peers (-0.56%) after data revealed the UK GDP contracted by 0.1% in October, dampening investor sentiment despite expectations of a Bank of England rate cut next week.Broad Tech Pressure: The negative sentiment likely spilled over from the U.S. "Tech Wreck," where major earnings disappointments from Oracle and Broadcom dragged down global equities.For the trading week, the changes were mixed with France's CAC and UK's FTSE 100 lower, but German DAX, Spain's Ibex and Italy's FTSE MIB higher:German DAX +0.66%France's CAC -0.57%UK's FTSE 100 -0.19%Spain's Ibex, +0.99%Italy's FTSE MIB +0.19%Key Drivers for the Week:Spain (IBEX 35): Outperformed peers, driven by resilience in its banking sector and utilities, adding nearly 1% for the week.Germany (DAX): Despite dropping -0.34% today, the index secured a weekly gain of roughly 0.66%, hitting a 2-month peak earlier in the week.UK (FTSE 100): Lagged significantly, ending the week in the red (-0.19%) after GDP data showed the economy shrank unexpectedly in OctoberLooking at other markets as European traders head for the exits:Crude oil is trading up $0.10 at $57.70. For the week the price is down around 4%.Gold and silver have reversed into negative territory. Gold is down $1.40 or -0.03% at 4277. The high price reached 4353.57. Silver is now down $-2.40 or -3.74% at $61.17. It raised to a new all-time high of $64.65 before reversing hard to the downside. Bitcoin is reversing to the downside on risk-off sentiment. The price is down $-2281 at $90,258 This article was written by Greg Michalowski at investinglive.com.

SNB Policy: Rates on Hold, "Expansive" Stance RemainsThe Swiss National Bank (SNB) kept rates unchanged earlier this week at 0.0%. Following the decision, comments from SNB Chairman Martin Schlegel—combined with technical resistance—helped push the USDCHF lower (strengthening the CHF).Key Takeaways from Chairman Schlegel:Policy Stance: Schlegel stressed that the current stance remains "expansive" and supportive of growth.Inflation Outlook: Midterm inflation pressures are essentially unchanged. He downplayed recent softer inflation readings, expecting inflation to rise gradually as accommodative policy and growth prospects take effect.FX & Rates: Low interest rates remain effective via the exchange rate. The SNB stands ready to intervene in FX markets if necessary, noting that rate differentials are a key driver of currency moves.Future Tools: While the bar for returning to negative rates is higher, they remain an option if warranted.Risks: Significant risks persist, including U.S. trade policy, though fiscal conditions should be broadly supportive next year.Technical Analysis: The Range HoldsTechnically, the price action this week confirms the importance of the long-standing trading range that has confined the pair since September (roughly between 0.7900 and 0.80876).Failed Breakout: On Monday and Tuesday, the price moved marginally above the high of that swing area, reaching 0.8085 and 0.8083, respectively.The Reversal: These highs failed to sustain momentum, sparking a run to the downside that began on Wednesday and continued through Thursday.The Breakdown: Failing at the 0.8000 MidpointA critical technical development occurred during Wednesday's trade when the price fell below its 50% midpoint at 0.8000—a level that also serves as a natural psychological anchor.The Retest: On Thursday, the price corrected up to test that 0.8000 level.Seller Reaction: Sellers leaned in against that resistance, initiating another leg lower.Support Found: That decline extended to a swing area between 0.7924 and 0.7928, where buyers finally stepped in to push the price higher into the close.Current Setup: The 38.2% Retracement HurdleIn trading today, the move to the upside has continued, but modestly. The current price is trading near session highs at 0.7963, off the low from yesterday near 0.7924. However, the recovery is facing a new hurdle:Resistance: The rally is still short of the broken 38.2% retracement of the trading range (measured from the November high to November low). That level comes in at 0.7971.What to Watch Next:Bullish Case: If buyers are to take back control, they need to break above 0.7971 and push back toward the 0.8000 midpoint.Bearish Case: Absent a break of 0.7971, sellers remain in control, keeping the focus on the downside.Watch the Video Analysis: In the video above, I (Greg Michalowski, author of Attacking Currency Trends) break down the technical factors driving the move, outline where the risk is, and map out the next targets that matter most for USDCHF traders.Be aware. Be prepared. This article was written by Greg Michalowski at investinglive.com.

Here is a snapshot of the US stock market today, Friday, December 12, 2025, highlighting the "Tech Wreck" narrative driving the major declines you are seeing.Market Summary: The Great Rotation IntensifiesThe divergence in the market has widened significantly today. Investors are aggressively rotating out of high-flying technology and AI stocks—sparked by disappointments from key sector leaders—and moving capital into safer, cyclical sectors (like the industrials supporting the Dow).NASDAQ: -1.76% (Bearing the brunt of the sell-off)S&P 500: -1.17%Dow Jones: -0.50% (Outperforming relatively, thanks to industrial support)The sea of red in your list is largely driven by a "contagion effect" from two major earnings stories (Broadcom and Oracle) combined with specific analyst downgrades.1. The Anchors (Dragging the Sector Down)Broadcom (AVGO) [-11.25%]The Story: Broadcom is arguably the biggest weight on the tech sector today. Despite beating earnings and revenue expectations, the stock is being punished for "imperfect" guidance regarding margins. After rallying ~58% this year, investors were priced for perfection. When management hinted that AI chip margins might not expand as fast as hoped, it triggered a massive "sell the news" event.Oracle (ORCL) [-4.77%]The Story: The selling pressure from Wednesday's earnings report has not abated. Investors remain spooked by Oracle's massive capital expenditure (spending) plans to build out AI data centers. The market is worried that the costs are rising faster than the immediate profits, leading to a continued re-rating of the stock.2. The "Sympathy" Sell-Off (Semis & Storage)The weakness in Broadcom and Oracle has spooked investors in the entire hardware and semiconductor supply chain.Micron (MU) [-6.83%] & Western Digital (WDC) [-8.84%]The Story: These memory and storage giants are falling in sympathy with Broadcom. The fear is that if Broadcom is seeing margin pressure, other hardware players will too. Despite some recent analyst upgrades for Micron, the broader sector sentiment has turned negative today, leading to profit-taking.AMD [-4.72%] & Lam Research (LRCX) [-4.78%]The Story: As bellwethers for AI chips and chip-manufacturing equipment, these stocks are highly correlated with Broadcom. When the market decides to "de-risk" from AI hardware, these are the first names sold via ETFs and sector rotation.3. Company-Specific NewsCiena Corp (CIEN) [-10.45%]The Story: Ciena reported Q4 earnings today. While headlines initially showed they "crushed" earnings estimates and saw record sales, the massive drop suggests a classic "sell the news" reaction or disappointment with forward-looking details hidden in the guidance. In a nervous market, even good earnings aren't enough to sustain high valuations.Roblox (RBLX) [-4.98%]The Story: This decline is driven by a specific analyst move. JPMorgan downgraded Roblox today from "Overweight" (Buy) to "Neutral" and cut their price target. The analyst cited valuation concerns after the stock's recent run-up, prompting traders to lock in profits.Corning (GLW) [-7.62%]The Story: Corning had rallied for six straight days prior to today. This drop appears to be a technical correction and profit-taking event as the stock hit resistance levels, exacerbated by the general negative sentiment in tech hardware.Palantir (PLTR) [-4.55%] & Nebius NV (NBIS) [-5.17%]The Story: These are high-beta "pure play" AI stocks. When the market questions the ROI of AI spending (as they are with Oracle and Broadcom today), stocks like Palantir—which trade at very high valuations—often see the sharpest rapid declines as momentum traders exit. This article was written by Greg Michalowski at investinglive.com.

Order flow perspective as price tests a key downside levelAs market rotation may be intensifying and silver, the new black in metals (for quite some time now) skyrockets to a new high (don't forget my long term target for silver), I wanted to access investingLive's orderFlow Intel to see if the early selling today was intense under the hood. At the time of analysis, the S&P 500 futures are trading near 6,858, which is an important reference point for both short term traders and swing focused investors. This level represents yesterday’s value area low, and it is also a naked level, meaning it has not been fully tested since it was formed. These areas often attract attention because they can act as temporary stopping points, reaction zones, or decision points for the next directional move.From a pure chart perspective, the downside move over the last several range bars is obvious. What order flow analysis helps us answer is a deeper question: is this move driven by aggressive selling, or is it more of a controlled grind lower with two sided participation?What the order flow is telling usOur order flow analysis shows that sellers remain in control, but this is not a panic selloff.Buy and sell activity remains relatively balanced, even as price pushes lower. This suggests the market is still trading in a two sided manner, rather than experiencing forced liquidation.Despite that balance, sellers are consistently the more aggressive side, which is why price continues to drift lower.Importantly, we do not yet see strong evidence that buyers are stepping in aggressively at the lows. This means downside pressure has eased slightly at times, but it has not clearly reversed.In simple terms, sellers are pressing, but they are not slamming the market. Buyers are present, but so far they are reactive rather than proactive.Key levels that matter nowThese are the reference points traders and investors should keep in mind:6,858: Yesterday’s value area low and current test zone. This is the main decision point.6,869: Yesterday’s point of control. Often a natural first upside magnet if price stabilizes.6,885 to 6,891: Today’s value area low and VWAP zone. Reclaiming this area would meaningfully improve the short term bullish case.As long as price remains below today’s value area and VWAP, the near term structure stays bearish to neutral, even if we see short lived bounces.Scenarios to considerStabilization or bounce scenario If price holds above 6,858 and order flow starts to show less selling pressure, a tactical bounce toward 6,869 and potentially the lower edge of today’s value area becomes more likely. This would be a corrective move inside a still fragile structure, not an automatic trend reversal.Continuation lower scenario If price accepts below 6,858 and selling pressure remains steady, the market is likely searching for the next lower liquidity pocket. That would keep downside risk elevated and favor patience for dip buyers.OrderFlow Intel takeawayOrderFlow Intel is designed to give decision support, not predictions carved in stone. Right now, it tells us that sellers are still in control, but the market is approaching a level where reactions often occur. Traders should focus less on guessing direction and more on how price behaves at 6,858, and whether selling pressure intensifies or fades.OrderFlow Intel bias score: -4 This reflects a bearish bias with moderate confidence, balanced by the fact that price is testing a statistically important support zone.Trade at your own risk. This article was written by Itai Levitan at investinglive.com.

The Great Rotation ContinuesThe rotation in the US stock market is gaining momentum today, creating a tale of two markets. On one side, the Dow Jones Industrial Average is trading higher, finding support from major industrial and cyclical stocks that are attracting fresh capital. On the other side, the big technology heavyweights that have driven much of the year's gains are under pressure, dragging the Nasdaq lower. This divergence highlights a classic "sector rotation," where investors secure profits from high-flying tech names and redistribute funds into value-oriented industrial sectors.Broadcom: The Bellwether for Tech WeaknessThe catalyst for today's bearish tech sentiment is Broadcom (AVGO). The semiconductor giant released earnings that, on paper, looked robust:Earnings Per Share (EPS): Reported $1.95 versus the expected $1.86.Revenue: Came in at $18.02 billion, beating the estimate of $17.47 billion.Guidance: Forward guidance also came in better than Wall Street expectations.So, why the sell-off? Despite the beat, management indicated that margins would be tighter than expected. In a market environment where a stock has rallied nearly 58% year-to-date, investors demand absolute perfection. The slight concern over margins was enough to trigger a "sell the news" event. As a result, Broadcom stock is currently down close to 10% on the day, acting as a bellwether for the broader weakness in the technology sector.Technical Analysis: Dow, Nasdaq, and BroadcomIn the video above, I (Greg Michalowski, author of Attacking Currency Trends) break down the technical factors driving this rotation.I take a close look at the charts for the Dow Industrial Average, the Nasdaq Index, and Broadcom to identify the technical reality behind the price action. In the analysis, I outline:The Buyers: Where support is holding for the industrials.The Risks: Key danger zones for tech stocks right now.The Targets: The next price levels that matter most for traders.While this is just a sliver of the total market, these three charts perfectly represent the current bias: a continued rotation out of technology and into cyclicals.In other stock news, Dell is said it is raising prices on December 17 across commercial product lines. The price hikes are linked to demand for memory chips. Shares of Dell are down $3.18 or -2.35% at $135.38 This article was written by Greg Michalowski at investinglive.com.

The USDCAD saw a slew of economic data come out earlier today, painting a stronger-than-expected picture for the Canadian economy. Building permits for October were much stronger than expectations, surging 14.9% versus the forecasted -0.9% decline. Additionally, Capacity Utilization for the 3rd quarter came in at 78.5% (versus 77.6% revised from the last quarter), and Wholesale Trade for October rose by 0.1%, beating the -0.1% estimate.Bank of Canada Policy and Market ReactionThis week, the Bank of Canada left rates unchanged at 2.25%. The price initially rose off the news as the statement was perceived to be less hawkish than expected. However, that rally was short-lived; willing sellers came in against the 100-hour moving average and successfully pushed the price back to the downside.This behavior highlights a persistent technical theme. Finding willing sellers against its 100-hour moving average has been a pattern since the price broke back below that moving average on November 26. It corrected up to that level on that day, before rotating to the downside, starting a trend-like move that has taken the price from near 1.4100 to a low today of 1.3754. That move to the downside has now spanned 13 trading days - a long move over a relatively short period of time. The bias is to the downside. Technical Analysis: The 100-Hour Moving AverageAlong the journey to the downside, traders have continued to use the falling 100-hour moving average as a risk and bias-defining level. Each time the price tested this moving average on a corrective move, sellers leaned against the level. That occurred on December 2, again on December 4, and once more this week during Wednesday's trade on December 10.Needless to say, if the buyers are to take more control, they would need to get—and stay—above that 100-hour moving average. The moving average currently comes in at 1.38177.On the downside, the next major target comes against a number of swing lows between 1.3721 and 1.3726. Lows within that area came in on August 8, August 10, September 1, and September 17 before starting the last run to the upside that peaked at 1.41398 on November 5.Key Technical Levels to WatchFor traders mapping out their next moves, these are the critical levels defining the current bearish trend:1.38177 (Resistance): This is where the 100-hour moving average currently comes in. A break above this level would give sellers some cause for pause (at least for a correction) and give buyers a victory they have not seen since the break of the moving average back on November 26.1.3800 (Short-Term Risk): A closer short-term risk defining level would be Monday's low, which comes in right around the 1.3800 level.1.3759 (Current Price): The market is currently trading near recent lows, maintaining the pressure on the downside.1.3721 – 1.3726 (Target): That area is where lows stalled on August 8, August 10, September 1, and September 17Watch the Video Analysis: In the video above, I (Greg Michalowski, author of Attacking Currency Trends) break down the technical factors driving the move lower in the USDCAD. I outline where the risk is and what the next targets are so you can plan the roadmap for your trades in that pair, now and going forward.Be aware. Be prepared. This article was written by Greg Michalowski at investinglive.com.

The stock market today paints a diverse picture, with tech giants and semiconductor players experiencing contrasting fates. While stalwart technology names remain largely stable, the semiconductor sector displays a mixed performance, suggesting a fluctuating narrative within a crucial industry.? Sector OverviewTechnology & Software: Leading tech stock Microsoft (MSFT) modestly declined by 0.30%, maintaining a steady hold amidst sector volatility. Meanwhile, Oracle (ORCL) slid by 1.55%, reflecting cautious sentiment within software infrastructure, possibly due to market saturation concerns or competitive pressures.Semiconductors: The semiconductor scene is divided with Nvidia (NVDA) rising by 0.58%, showing resilience amid industry pressure. However, Broadcom (AVGO) plummeted by 7.57%, likely indicative of investor unease surrounding its market forecasts or sector-wide disruptions.Consumer Electronics & Communication Services: Apple (AAPL) saw a slight uptick of 0.17%, suggesting stability or cautious optimism. Google (GOOGL) similarly posted a comfortable gain of 0.54%, highlighting ongoing confidence in digital advertising and services.Financials: The sector demonstrated optimism with Citigroup (C) up 1.26% and JPMorgan Chase (JPM) gaining 0.64%, signifying investor confidence potentially driven by favorable economic conditions or earnings reports.Consumer Cyclical: Amazon (AMZN) edged down by 0.31%, reflecting potential market skepticism or profit-taking, even as Tesla (TSLA) gained 1.02%, indicative of strong sentiment or recent product innovations fueling investor enthusiasm.? Market Mood and TrendsCurrent market sentiment is on a cautious trajectory, with investors weighing macroeconomic data against sector-specific developments. The semiconductor sector's mixed results are pivotal, possibly hinting at supply chain challenges or shifts in global demand dynamics. Technology remains a stalwart, with stable performance likely buoyed by consistent earnings or technological advancements.Strategic RecommendationsInvestors might consider a diversified approach to navigate the fluctuations, focusing on tech stocks that continue to show resilience amidst market pressures.Keep a close watch on semiconductors for potential recovery signals, particularly as broader economic conditions stabilize.Consider increasing exposure to financials and select consumer cyclical stocks where underlying economic factors support longer-term growth.Stay updated with developments and adapt portfolios to safeguard against unexpected downturns while positioning for growth opportunities. For more insights and updates, visit InvestingLive.com?. This article was written by Itai Levitan at investinglive.com.

Cleveland Fed President Beth Hammack is giving her perspective this morning following Wednesday's split FOMC decision. While the committee voted to lower rates by 25 basis points, the decision was far from unanimous, highlighting a deepening divide among policymakers regarding the path forward for inflation and the labor market.The Split Decision: A Rare 9-to-3 VoteThe Federal Reserve voted to cut its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points, but the decision revealed significant internal disagreement.The Majority (9 Votes): Opted for a standard 25 basis point reduction.The Hawks (2 Dissents): Chicago Fed President Austan Goolsbee and Kansas City Fed President Jeffrey Schmid voted to keep rates unchanged, arguing for patience to ensure inflation is fully tamed.The Dove (1 Dissent): Fed Governor Stephen Miran voted for a more aggressive 50 basis point cut, likely prioritizing labor market support.Hammack’s Stance: Aligning with the HawksAlthough she was not a voting member at this meeting, she will be a voting member in January and for the entirety of 2026. President Hammack prior to the meeting made it clear she aligns with the "no change" camp. There were 4 dissenting members who voted for no change. One of them is assumed to be Hammack. Another would be Lori Logan the Dallas Fed Pres.Hammack comments today:The labor market has been gradually cooling but inflation above the target.Balancing both sides of Fed mandate is challenging.Not having government data has created a bit of a fog for the Fed.There is a wide range of alternative data on job market.Lack of data makes reading inflation harder to do.Very grateful government data is returning.Independent central banks deliver better outcomes.Novel that a Fed Gov. retained a connection to the White House.8:54 AM ET:So far Hammack has not explicitly said that she opted for keeping policy unchanged, and sounds a little less hawkish than her comments from prior to the rate decision. She seems a bit more neutral from her fog without data. Is she seeing a clearer picture?More from Hammack: Weaker dollar this year was not about moving away from currency.Is committed to achieving Fed's 2% inflation target, price pressures have been too high.Seeing some softening on labor side of the economy.Has every confidence next Fed chair will be focused on 2% inflation target. Local context described low higher, low fire job sector.Shifting a bit more hawkish: Fed decision this week was complicatedJob market breakeven is greatly reduced. Right now Fed policy is right around neutral.Would prefer for Fed policy to be a little more restrictive than current level.Will be watching carefully to see if inflation moderates and jobs stabilized.Economy will get boost from fiscal stimulus. Watching to see price increases come from delayed tariff impact This article was written by Greg Michalowski at investinglive.com.

Fed's Goolsbee is speaking on CNBC and further explaining his decision to keep rates unchanged at the reason FOMC rate decision where the Fed decided to cut rates by 25 basis points.. He was 1 of 2 dissenters who voted for no change in policy. Fed's Miran voted for a larger 50 basis point cut. Goolsbee says: Can't assume that current inflation will be transitory.Waiting until Q1 for rate cuts would allow Fed to be assured inflation is coming down.Measures of job market have been pretty stable.Shifts in data like monthly payrolls have made it difficult to assess things like breakeven job creation rates.To have both low hiring and low firing does not suggest a cyclical downturn.Not hawkish on rates next year, feel optimistic rates can fall this year but uncomfortable frontloading loser policy.Services inflation before the government shutdown was concerning.There is nothing wrong with the argument that inflation will for next year, but need to be more certain.Says he is below the medium term of 2026 rate cuts according to the dot plot.Expects the unemployment rate to be pretty stable.Prices are 1 of the main factors for consumers and businessesWe can ignore that prices have been rising for 4 years.People take the Fed job seriously, that is fundamental to its independence. Vote to reappoint Fed regional presence took place on a normal schedule but was announced earlier.The process of reappointing regional bank presence is very robust.The restart of Fed security purchases is tactical to assure rate control, but not part of monetary policy (the market was characterizing the $40 billion per month of bill purchases as mini-QE. Goolsbee is pushing back on that interpretation)Take some comfort in market based measures of inflation, a source of optimism about the path of price increases.Drop inflation should be detectable in the 1st quarter of the year.Austan Goolsbee's Rationale for PatienceRationalizing the Dissent: A Call for Patience on Inflation Goolsbee explains his decision to dissent against the recent rate cut, emphasizing that the Federal Reserve cannot simply assume current inflation pressures are transitory. He argues that waiting until the first quarter of the year would have been the more prudent path, allowing policymakers to be certain that price growth—particularly in the services sector—is genuinely on a downward trajectory before easing policy. While he remains optimistic that rates can fall significantly next year and notes that his own projections for 2026 cuts are actually below the median "dot plot," he is uncomfortable "front-loading" looser policy now. He believes that ignoring the fact that prices have been rising for four years risks damaging the Fed's credibility, and that waiting for more data would not have entailed significant economic risk.Labor Market Stability: "Bending but Not Breaking" On the employment front, Goolsbee characterizes the labor market as stable rather than deteriorating, challenging the narrative that a rate cut was urgently needed to save jobs. He points out that the economy is currently seeing a unique dynamic of "low hiring and low firing," which does not suggest a typical cyclical downturn. He maintains that the overall measures of the job market have been steady. This stability, he argues, afforded the Fed the luxury of patience to focus on extinguishing inflation risk.Fed Operations and Independence Goolsbee also addressed technical and governance issues to clarify the Fed's position. He pushed back strongly against the market’s interpretation of the Fed’s restarted security purchases (buying $40 billion per month in bills) as "mini-QE," clarifying that these are purely tactical moves to assure rate control, not a shift in monetary policy. This article was written by Greg Michalowski at investinglive.com.

Jeffrey Schmid (Kansas City Fed President)Summary: Schmid, another dissenter, takes a hawkish stance driven by persistent inflation concerns. He views the economy as having momentum and the job market as balanced, which contrasts with the idea that employment is at risk. His primary worry is that inflation remains "too hot," and he questions whether current policy is actually restrictive enough to bring it down, warning that the Fed must not become complacent about its hard-won credibility on price stability.Data is still incomplete, but based on what is available, inflation remains too high while the job market seems largely in balance.Continue to hear concerns about inflation from people in the district.Monetary policy is only modestly, if at all, restrictive.One of the Fed’s great policy successes was in gaining credibility on inflation, and policymakers should not be complacent about maintaining it.The economy is showing momentum and inflation is too hot.Given high inflation, monetary policy should remain modestly restrictive. This article was written by Greg Michalowski at investinglive.com.

Currency and Bond Market OverviewThe US Dollar is trading marginally higher today, stabilizing after two days of declines. Treasury yields have also ticked up to start the North American session, with the 10-year yield rising 3.7 basis points, retracing a similar fall from last week.The Japanese Yen and Central Bank WatchUSD/JPY: The biggest mover among majors, gaining 0.26% to 156.00.Bank of Japan (BoJ) Outlook: The BoJ is signaling that its rate-hiking cycle will likely extend beyond 0.75%. However, policymakers are avoiding a fixed path or a precise "neutral rate," preferring a flexible, data-dependent approach.Upcoming Rate Decisions: Next week will be pivotal for central banks, with interest rate decisions due from the Bank of Japan, the ECB, and the Bank of England.Technical Analysis Video: In the video above, I (Greg Michalowski, author of Attacking Currency Trends) break down the technical factors driving the three major currency pairs—EURUSD, USDJPY, and GBPUSD. I outline the bias, risks, and map out the next targets that matter most for traders.US Equity Markets: Sector Rotation and Tech WeaknessUS stock futures are mixed as the week comes to a close, following the Federal Reserve’s third rate cut of the year on Wednesday. The rate cut is encouraging a broader market rotation, with small-cap stocks outperforming and global markets generally trending higher.Dow Futures: Slightly higher (+86 points).S&P 500 & Nasdaq: Marginally lower, with the Nasdaq underperforming due to pressure on high-valuation technology stocks.Key Tech Concerns: Weakness in AI-related names is weighing on the Nasdaq. Investors are growing concerned that rising AI infrastructure costs may hurt margins, despite the long-term growth narrative.Corporate Movers: AI & Earnings FocusBroadcom (AVGO)Price Action: Down ~5.8% in pre-market trading to $382.75 (despite hitting a record high of $414.61 earlier this week).Earnings: Beat expectations with $18.02B revenue (vs. $17.5B expected) and raised its dividend by 10%.The Narrative: Management highlighted surging AI demand and an expanded $73B AI backlog. However, investors are locking in profits after a ~75% YTD rally, citing concerns over valuation and slower non-AI revenue growth.Oracle (ORCL)Price Action: Trading roughly -0.8% lower today, following a sharp -10.83% drop yesterday.The Narrative: While cloud and AI metrics were strong, overall revenue and guidance disappointed. The sell-off reflects anxiety over aggressive capital spending plans and skepticism regarding the immediate payoff of their AI investments.Market SnapshotUS Stock FuturesDow Industrial Average: +86 pointsS&P Index: -11.5 pointsNASDAQ Index: -157 pointsUS Treasury Yields Yields are higher across the curve:2-Year: 3.545% (+1.5 bps)5-Year: 3.743% (+2.8 bps)10-Year: 4.178% (+3.7 bps)30-Year: 4.831% (+4.2 bps)Commodities and CryptoFunds continue to flow into precious metals, with Silver and Gold seeing significant strength.Silver ($64.13, +0.81%) Silver has hit another new record, outperforming due to a "perfect storm" of drivers:Safe-Haven & Rate Cuts: Lower real yields and geopolitical uncertainty increase its store-of-value appeal.Industrial Demand: Critical need for silver in electronics, solar, EVs, and data centers.Supply Crunch: Mine supply is lagging demand while exchange inventories are drawing down.Other CommoditiesGold: Up $49 (+1.15%) to $4,328.56, within striking distance of the all-time high close ($4,355.62).Crude Oil: Up $0.06 at $57.67.Bitcoin: Down $347 at $92,184.Fed Speak & EventsAustan Goolsbee: The Chicago Fed President will be speaking this morning at 8:30 AM ET on CNBC.Context: Recall that Goolsbee was a dissenter at this week's FOMC meeting, voting for no change in policy while the majority voted to cut. This article was written by Greg Michalowski at investinglive.com.

It is two days after the FOMC rate decision where the voting members decided by a 9-3 vote to cut rates by 25 basis points with 2 voting to keep rates unchanged and 1 (Miran) voted for a 50 basis point cut. Miran. Fed's Goolsbee and Paulson are out with comments as to their choices and whys. Austan Goolsbee (Chicago Fed President)Summary: Goolsbee explained his dissent against the recent rate cut, arguing for a more patient approach. He emphasizes that the economy is stable enough to wait for more data, especially given that inflation has been stuck above target for years. He warns against "front-loading" cuts when inflation risks persist, suggesting that waiting until early 2026 would have been the prudent, lower-risk path.Waiting would also have provided the benefit of updated economic data.Dissented over the rate cut because of the belief that the Fed should wait for more information, particularly about inflation.Little to suggest the labor market is decaying so fast that the Fed could not have waited until early 2026 to cut rates again.Inflation has been above target for four and a half years, progress has stalled, and businesses and consumers cite prices as a main concern.Higher current inflation may have come from tariffs and prove transitory, but the danger is that it proves more long-lasting.Waiting would have been the more prudent course and would not have entailed much additional risk.Most data show stable economic growth with the labor market only moderately cooling.Still optimistic that rates can come down a significant amount over the next year, but concerned about front-loading given the inflation of the last several years.Anna Paulson (Philadelphia Fed President)Summary: Anna Paulson (Philadelphia Fed Pres.) strikes a slightly different tone, focusing more on the balance between employment and inflation. She characterizes the labor market as "bending, but not breaking" and expresses greater concern for job risks relative to inflation. She suggests that current policy is restrictive enough to handle price pressures—most of which she attributes to tariffs—and highlights the flexibility the Fed has heading into the January meeting.Is more concerned about job risks relative to inflation.Current Fed policy is "somewhat restrictive" and should moderate inflation.Inflation is too high, but the job market is "bending, but not breaking".The Fed will have much more info in hand at the January FOMC meeting.Sees a "decent chance" inflation will moderate into next year."Most" of the high inflation in 2025 has been driven by trade tariffs.Credibility gives the Fed flexibility to respond to the economy.UPDATE: More from Paulson after her initial comments: The data on the economy are staleIf there were a big change in conditions, would expect to hear that from contacts This article was written by Greg Michalowski at investinglive.com.

India's inflation rate increases to 0.71% in November, but the Rupee continues to bleedInterest rate expectations turn more hawkish for most major central banks except the FedGold extends gains after key technical breakout, putting all-time highs in sightNifty 50 recovers some losses on dovish Powell, but it's not out of the woods just yetThe British Pound falls on weaker than expected GDP data sealing the case for a rate cutFX option expiries for 12 December 10am New York cutWhat are the main events for today?It's been a very light session in terms of data releases and newsflow. The main highlight was the UK GDP which missed expectations and weighed on the pound. Traders added to BoE rate cuts bets, increasing the total easing by the end of 2026 from 57 bps to 61 bps.We also got the final CPI readings for Germany, France and Spain but there were no surprises there as the data came out in line with the preliminary figures.The most notable mover in the session was gold. The precious metal continues to rally after yesterday's key technical breakout, and it's now getting very close to the all-time high set in October. The fall in real yields following Powell's dovish tone is a good tailwind.In other markets, US equities continue to mostly range, while maintainig a bullish bias. The bear-steepening in US Treasuries has resumed after Powell's press conference, with the 10Y-2Y spread close to breaking the April 2025 highs.The US dollar recovered some of yesterday's losses, although it looks more like a technical pullback given the lack of catalysts today. We might even see some pullbacks before the NFP given the expected high volatility.In the American session, we don't have anything on the agenda other than a couple of Fed speakers. Wish you all a nice weekend! This article was written by Giuseppe Dellamotta at investinglive.com.

KEY POINTS:India's inflation rate Y/Y increased to 0.71% vs 0.70% expected in NovemberThe prior release saw inflation falling to a record low of 0.25%The RBI's inflation target is 4% with a +/-2% tolerance bandInflation remains far below the central bank's targetINFLATION REPORT:India's inflation rate increased to 0.71% in November after falling to 0.25% in October. The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation noted that the increase in headline inflation and food inflation during the month of November was mainly attributed to increase in inflation of Vegetables, Egg, Meat and fish, Spices and Fuel and light.Food makes up the largest share of India's Consumer Price Index (CPI) basket (typically around 46%). This means that swings in food inflation influence significantly overall inflation. A government review might lower slightly the weight in the upcoming revision in January 2026.MARKET REACTION:The INR strengthened a bit following the release but quickly gave back the gains and extended the losses against the US dollar as the USD/INR pair continues to push into new record highs.Next week, we have the US NFP and CPI reports. Right now, the market is leaning on the dovish side for the Fed, so a surprisingly strong employment report should trigger a hawkish repricing and give the US dollar a boost.The big picture trend remains heavily skewed to the upside and probably only a major positive breakthrough on the US-India trade front could give the Indian Rupee a strong short-term boost. This article was written by Giuseppe Dellamotta at investinglive.com.

Rate cuts by year-endFed 2026: 54 bps (73% probability of no change at the upcoming meeting)BoE 2026: 61 bps (90% probability of rate cut at the upcoming meeting)Rate hikes by year-endBoC 2026: 25 bps (93% probability of no change at the upcoming meeting)ECB 2026: 10 bps (100% probability of no change at the upcoming meeting)BoJ 2026: 67 bps (76% probability of rate hike at the upcoming meeting)RBA 2026: 40 bps (82% probability of no change at the upcoming meeting)RBNZ 2026: 58 bps (97% probability of no change at the upcoming meeting)SNB 2026: 6 bps (100% probability of no change at the upcoming meeting)Looking at the market pricing above, we can see that traders are no longer looking for rate cuts in 2026, on the contrary, they are now expecting rate hikes. The only two major central banks that are still expected to cut rates a couple of times are the Federal Reserve (Fed) and the Bank of England (BoE).This is creating a monetary policy divergence that is likely to weigh on the USD and GBP against the other major currencies. But it could also bring nice trading opportunities in case the economic data triggers a hawkish repricing.Next week, we have the US NFP report on Tuesday and the US CPI on Thursday. It's going to be a huge week for the market. The focus will be mainly on the NFP report as the Fed continues to place a great deal on the labour market. If we get strong data, especially on the unemployment rate side, we will likely see a hawkish repricing in interest rate expectations that should give a boost to the US dollar, and weigh on stocks and precious metals.On the other hand, weak data will support the case for further cuts and keep the trends going, with US dollar likely losing more ground, stocks hitting new highs and precious metals sizzling. This article was written by Giuseppe Dellamotta at investinglive.com.