To The Moon

Wall Street ended the week on a strong note, brushing aside underwhelming job growth and instead leaning into a more optimistic outlook for 2026. Markets rallied broadly, reinforcing the idea that investors increasingly view labor data as a lagging indicator, not a constraint on future growth.

U.S. equities posted their best weekly performance since late November, with all major indexes moving higher:

• Dow Jones Industrial Average: +238 points (+0.5%)

• $S&P 500(.SPX)$ : +0.6%

• $NASDAQ(.IXIC)$ : +0.8%

The gains came even as the November jobs report missed expectations. The economy added 50,000 nonfarm jobs, below the forecast of 55,000 and capping what has been the weakest year for job growth since 2003 outside of a recession.

Still, markets focused on a more encouraging detail: the unemployment rate fell to 4.4%, beating expectations and reinforcing the perception that labor market weakness may already be priced in.

Why Investors Are Looking Ahead, Not Back

Key factors shaping that optimism include:

• The cumulative impact of recent rate cuts

• Expected fiscal stimulus from the “One Big Beautiful Bill”

• Early signs of improvement in forward-looking economic indicators

In this context, softer hiring is being interpreted less as a warning sign and more as confirmation that inflationary pressures may continue to ease, giving policymakers room to stay accommodative.

AI, Energy, and a Broad-Based Rally

Equity gains were not limited to macro optimism. Artificial intelligence-linked stocks surged after $Meta Platforms, Inc.(META)$ announced agreements with nuclear energy firms Oklo, TerraPower, and Vistra to secure long-term power for its AI infrastructure.

$Meta & Vistra

That news helped lift:

• Utilities: +1.2%

• iShares Semiconductor ETF: +2.9%

The rally spread across most sectors, with materials leading (+1.8%), while healthcare lagged slightly (−0.6%). The broad participation underscored improving risk appetite across the market.

Policy Uncertainty Lingers Beneath the Surface

Heading into the session, investors were watching closely for a Supreme Court ruling on President Trump’s use of emergency powers to enact tariffs. No trade-related decision ultimately emerged, leaving markets without the clarity many had hoped for.

Looking Ahead: Earnings and Inflation in Focus

Attention now shifts to the week ahead, where two major catalysts loom:

• Earnings season begins, led by big banks trading near record highs, raising the bar for positive surprises.

• Inflation data takes center stage, with the Consumer Price Index on Tuesday and producer prices on Wednesday likely to shape expectations for future Fed policy.

Conclusion: Confidence Is Forward-Looking

This week’s rally made one thing clear: markets are choosing to look forward, not backward. Despite lackluster job growth, falling unemployment, supportive policy expectations, and structural themes like AI-driven investment are reinforcing confidence in the 2026 outlook…

[Salute]

If you found this summary helpful, be sure to like, comment and subscribe to stay informed on the economic trends shaping markets.

This summary is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Investors should conduct their own research before making investment decisions.

@TigerStars

@TigerEvents

@Tiger_comments

@CaptainTiger

@TigerCommunity