Thursday, 12/4/2025 p.m.
- Markets close higher on new labor-market data – Equity markets finished higher on Thursday, with industrial and technology stocks leading gains*. Bond yields rose, with the 10-year U.S. Treasury yield at 4.10%* In international markets, Europe advanced as eurozone retail sales for October rose 1.5% year-over-year, beating forecasts of 1.0% growth*. The U.S. dollar strengthened against major currencies. In commodity markets, WTI oil traded higher, after U.S.-Russia talks did not result in a breakthrough toward to a peace deal*.
- Jobless claims, layoffs lower than expected – Initial jobless claims dipped to 191,000 in a holiday-shortened week, below estimates of 221,000*. Continuing claims, which measure the total number of people receiving benefits, were little changed at 1.94 million, also lower than forecasts to tick up to 1.95 million*. Challenger, Gray & Christmas reported layoffs dropped to 71,000 in November, down from 153,000 in October*. We believe this data suggests the labor market is cooling but not collapsing. The unemployment rate remains modest at 4.4%, while job openings at 7.2 million have dipped below unemployment of 7.6 million*. In our view, wage gains should continue to outpace inflation, providing positive real wages to support consumer spending and the broader economy.
- Fed's preferred inflation gauge expected to be mixed – Personal consumption expenditure (PCE) inflation for September will be released tomorrow, delayed by the government shutdown. The headline figure is expected to edge up to 2.8%, from 2.7% the prior month*. Core PCE, which excludes more-volatile food and energy prices, is forecast to tick down to 2.8%, from 2.9% in August*. While PCE inflation remains above the Fed's 2% target, we believe the central bank is on track to ease again next week to help support the cooling labor market. Bond markets are pricing in an 87% chance of a rate cut this month, likely followed by another two cuts next year*. We expect inflation to moderate next year, as a slowdown in home prices** and rents*** likely feeds through to the shelter component, in our view, likely enabling the Fed to continue its easing cycle, though at a slower pace.
Brian Therien, CFA;
Investment Strategy
Source: *FactSet ** S&P national home price index *** Zillow Observed Rent Index
Wednesday, 12/3/2025 p.m.
- Stocks gain on firming services activity – U.S. markets closed higher on Wednesday following a better-than-expected ISM Services PMI reading for November.* The Services PMI rose to 52.6, its highest since February, signaling steady activity in the services sector of the economy.* The prices sub-index fell to 65.4 in November—the lowest since April—an encouraging sign for services inflation after the index jumped to a three-year high in October.* On the labor-market front, the ADP employment report for November showed that private employment declined by 32,000, well below expectations for a gain of 40,000.* From a leadership perspective, most sectors finished the day flat to higher, with cyclical sectors such as energy and financials leading the way.* Additionally, small-cap stocks saw strong returns, with the Russell 2000 Index gaining well over 1%.* Overseas, markets in Asia were mixed overnight, with Japan’s Nikkei gaining more than 1% while stocks in China were mostly lower.* European markets were little changed after a better-than-expected eurozone composite PMI reading, which rose to 52.8—the highest since May 2023—signaling improving economic activity in the region.* Bond yields closed slightly lower, with the 10-year U.S. Treasury yield hovering around 4.06% and the 2-year yield finishing the day near 3.48%.*
- Employment decline likely paves the way for a Fed cut next week – The ADP employment report showed that private payrolls fell by 32,000 in November, well below expectations for a gain of 40,000.* Weakness was most pronounced among small businesses, with companies employing fewer than 50 workers shedding 120,000 jobs during the month.* With employment data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) delayed until later this month due to the government shutdown, today’s report will be one of the final labor-market indicators before next week’s Fed meeting. While the initial ADP estimate has historically been an imperfect guide to monthly BLS payroll data***, the softness in November will likely provide further reason for a Fed rate cut, with futures markets now pricing in roughly a 90% chance of a cut at next week’s meeting.** Job openings remain well below recent highs*, signaling falling demand for labor and suggesting job gains could be modest over the coming year. However, we expect economic activity to remain healthy, which should help keep layoffs in check and help create a stable labor market despite slowing job growth.
- Strong earnings growth expected to persist in 2026 – Corporate profits have delivered in 2025, with S&P 500 earnings on pace to grow by 11.1% for the year, following a strong 10.4% gain in 2024.* It’s been familiar faces driving earnings growth in 2025, with the information technology sector expected to grow earnings by 22% for the year, while communication services is on pace for earnings growth of nearly 17%.* Backed by robust profit growth, it’s no surprise that these two sectors have been the top performers in 2025 and have led U.S. markets higher for much of the past three years.* In 2026, earnings growth is expected to be broad-based, with all 11 sectors of the S&P 500 projected to see positive earnings growth.* While information technology and communication services are each expected to see double-digit earnings growth in 2026, cyclical sectors such as industrials, consumer discretionary, and materials are expected to see profits grow by more than 11% as well.* While we acknowledge reasons for optimism within technology, we believe diversification will be critical for investors going forward. As part of our opportunistic equity sector guidance, we recommend investors overweight the industrials, health care, and consumer discretionary sectors, offset with underweights to utilities and consumer staples. We recommend maintaining a neutral allocation to all other sectors.
Brock Weimer, CFA;
Investment Strategy
Source: *FactSet **CME FedWatch Tool ***FactSet, Edward Jones
Tuesday, 12/2/2025 p.m.
- Stocks finish higher – U.S. equity markets closed higher on Tuesday, led by strength in the technology and industrials sectors.* The technology sector gained nearly 1% following upbeat earnings reports from mid-cap tech companies MongoDB and Credo Technologies, which helped support sentiment for the sector.* The industrials sector was higher by roughly 1% as well, supported by shares of Boeing, which gained roughly 10% on the day following commentary from company management that it expects stronger aircraft deliveries to boost free cash flow in 2026.* Overseas, markets in Asia were little changed overnight, while European markets were mixed following eurozone inflation data that showed headline CPI rose by 2.2% on an annual basis in November, slightly above expectations.* Bond yields were little changed Tuesday, with the 10-year Treasury yield closing around the 4.1% mark, while the 2-year yield finished the day at 3.51%.*
- Markets eye busy week ahead – It’s a quiet day in terms of economic data on Tuesday; however, investors will have plenty of fresh data to digest over the remainder of the week, with reports on economic activity, labor markets, and inflation taking center stage. Tomorrow will bring a read on payroll growth with the ADP employment report for November, where expectations call for a gain of 40,000 in private payrolls for the month.* In addition, we’ll get a read on business activity in the services sector of the economy with the ISM Services PMI for November. Tomorrow’s report will follow a weaker-than-expected Manufacturing PMI yesterday that showed declines in the employment and new orders sub-indexes, perhaps signaling fatigue within the manufacturing sector of the economy.* Friday will bring PCE inflation data for September, which has been delayed due to the government shutdown, with expectations for both headline and core PCE to rise by 2.8% on an annual basis.* While trade-policy shifts and a record-breaking government shutdown created challenges in 2025, activity has appeared to remain resilient. We expect economic growth to remain healthy into 2026 as the economy potentially benefits from easing monetary policy and modestly supportive fiscal policy, which, in our view, helps create a supportive backdrop for equity markets in the year ahead.
- 2026 expected to bring strong global earnings growth – 2025 has been a strong year for global equities, with U.S. and international markets on pace to gain over 15%.* Improving economic activity in the eurozone and rising corporate profitability in Japan have been catalysts for the move higher in developed international stocks, along with a weaker U.S. dollar.* In emerging markets, AI enthusiasm has gone global, with tech-heavy regions such as Korea and China posting strong gains thus far in 2025.* While much of the gain in international stocks was driven by valuation expansion in 2025*, we see scope for earnings growth to play a larger role in 2026. Estimates call for earnings growth of over 10% for stocks in the eurozone, United Kingdom, and China, while stocks in Japan are expected to see earnings growth of about 9%.* Broadening earnings growth helps create an attractive backdrop for equity markets in 2026 and helps reinforce the case for maintaining globally diversified portfolios, in our view.* As part of our opportunistic asset-allocation guidance, we recommend investors take a global approach to overweighting stocks versus bonds by favoring U.S. large- and mid-cap stocks, international developed small- and mid-cap stocks, and emerging-market equity. To view our full suite of portfolio guidance, check out our Monthly portfolio brief.
Investment Strategy
Source: *FactSet
Japan stocks represented by MSCI Japan.
Eurozone stocks represented by Euro Stoxx 50
U.K. stocks represented by MSCI U.K.
China stocks represented by MSCI China
Monday, 12/1/2025 p.m.
- A sluggish start to December – U.S. equity markets slipped today, kicking off the month on a soft note after an up-and-down November in which the S&P 500 index managed to eke out a seventh consecutive monthly gain*. The S&P fell 0.5% while the technology-focused Nasdaq index moved 0.4% lower, and the small-cap Russell 2000 index finished down 1.1%*. This follows a negative tone in global equity markets overnight, with the Japanese Nikkei index down nearly 2% after signals from the Bank of Japan that a rate hike might be on the way, sparking a sharp sell-off in local and global government bond markets*. This negative tone hit U.S. Treasury markets, with the yield on the 10-year Treasury note up 8 basis points (0.08%) today*. The dollar sold off against a trade-weighted basket of international currencies, and oil prices were a touch firmer at $59 per barrel*. Gold performed well amid the risk-off tone in markets, with prices up to $4,270 per ounce and now just 2.5% off their November high*. Cryptocurrencies, however, continue to struggle, with bitcoin down more than 6% over the session, reversing much of its recent bounce*.
- President Trump has decided on the next Fed chair – President Trump signaled over the weekend that "I know who I am going to pick" when asked who will succeed Jerome Powell as the next chair of the Federal Reserve Bank*. Treasury Secretary Bessant has indicated that a formal nomination could come before Christmas, with the president's chief economic adviser, Kevin Hassett, the heavily rumored frontrunner*. Hassett recently suggested that the Fed should be cutting rates, based on his reading of the current economic data*, although that data flow remains limited for the time being as statistics agencies continue to catch up after an extended closure during a record-breaking government shutdown. Markets are betting on another Fed rate cut, with a 25 basis point reduction (0.25%) now close to 100% priced into short-term money markets, following some dovish comments from Fed policymakers and concerning signals around the labor market in last week's Beige Book report*. Today's ISM manufacturing survey echoed these signals, with firms apparently cutting back on payrolls in this sector over November amid weak order books and rising price pressures*.
- Santa Claus rally on the horizon? – U.S. markets have experienced a rollercoaster ride in 2025, with the S&P 500 falling 19% peak-to-trough in April but quickly regaining those losses to post a 16% year-to-date gain as we close out November**. While we acknowledge that fundamental factors such as corporate earnings and interest rates—not the calendar—are the primary drivers of markets, December has historically been a strong month for stocks, perhaps suggesting that the 2025 rally has more gas in the tank. Since 1980, the S&P 500 has delivered a positive return in December 71% of the time, with an average gain of 1.2%***. That compares to positive returns 63% of the time for any month, with an average monthly gain of 0.9%***. While there’s no guarantee this trend will repeat itself in 2025, history appears to suggest stocks could end the year on a high note, in our view.
Investment Strategy
Source: *Bloomberg, **FactSet, ***FactSet, Edward Jones, S&P 500 Price Index.
Friday, 11/28/2025 p.m.
- Stocks tick higher to close out November – U.S. equity markets traded modestly higher on Friday, with the S&P 500 finishing up over 3% for the week and edging out a slight gain for the month, marking the seventh consecutive month of positive returns.* From a leadership perspective, 10 of 11 sectors of the S&P 500 finished higher on Friday, led by energy and consumer discretionary, while health care was the lone sector to finish lower.* It was a quiet day on the economic calendar, with markets looking ahead to next week's ISM PMI data and PCE inflation for September.* Bond yields closed slightly higher, with the 10-year U.S. Treasury yield ticking to just above the 4% mark while the 2-year yield closed around 3.5%.*
- Sector leadership rotating in the fourth quarter – After strong performance in the first nine months of the year from growth-oriented sectors such as communication services and information technology*, we’ve seen signs of a leadership rotation underway in the fourth quarter. Health care has been the strongest-performing sector quarter-to-date, gaining over 13% including dividends, followed by communication services, which has gained 7.5%, and utilities, which are up 3.2%.* Additionally, the Russell 1000 Value Index has posted a 2.4% gain quarter-to-date compared with a 1.3% gain for the Russell 1000 Growth Index.* With expectations high and valuations elevated within growth-oriented sectors, we believe diversification will be critical for investors in the coming months, and we recommend maintaining balance between growth- and value-style stocks. As part of our opportunistic equity sector guidance, we suggest overweight positions in consumer discretionary, health care, and industrials, offset by underweights in consumer staples and utilities.
- Santa Claus rally on the horizon? – U.S. markets have experienced a rollercoaster ride in 2025, with the S&P 500 falling 19% peak-to-trough in April but quickly regaining those losses to post a 16% year-to-date gain as we close out November.* While we acknowledge that fundamental factors such as corporate earnings and interest rates—not the calendar—are the primary drivers of markets, December has historically been a strong month for stocks, perhaps suggesting that the 2025 rally has more gas in the tank. Since 1980, the S&P 500 has delivered a positive return in December 71% of the time, with an average gain of 1.2%.** That compares to positive returns 63% of the time for any month, with an average monthly gain of 0.9%.** While there’s no guarantee this trend will repeat itself in 2025, history appears to suggest stocks could end the year on a high note, in our view.
Brock Weimer, CFA;
Investment Strategy
Source: *FactSet **FactSet, Edward Jones, S&P 500 Price Index.