Thanksgiving Optimism Boosts U.S. Markets a Day Early

Thanksgiving in the United States falls on Thursday, but investors may have started the feast a day early. The S&P 500, Dow Jones Industrial Average and Nasdaq Composite each logged a fourth consecutive day of gains.

Oracle’s shares, which have drifted modestly throughout November after a dramatic rally in September, rose about 4% after Deutsche Bank described the recent pullback as “an attractive entry point for investors when looking at Oracle’s business in totality.” Fellow technology and AI‑focused companies—including Nvidia and Microsoft—also posted gains, buoyed by the broader optimism.

“Thanksgiving week is typically a strong week for the markets. Sentiment is upbeat,” said Eric Diton, president and managing director at The Wealth Alliance.

The post‑Thanksgiving period could prove more decisive. Futures pricing now suggests roughly an 85% probability that the Federal Reserve will trim its benchmark rate by a quarter‑percentage point in December. When expectations are high, any disappointment could trigger a swift sell‑off.

“If the Fed disappoints, we could see a correction,” Diton warned, though he added, “I don’t expect that scenario.”

Should White House National Economic Council director Kevin Hassett assume the Fed chairmanship after Jerome Powell’s departure, the trajectory of rates might tilt even lower, according to Bank of America economist Aditya Bhave. Looser monetary policy historically supports equity valuations, a view reflected in ambitious S&P 500 targets for the end of 2026—7,400 from CFRA’s chief investment strategist Sam Stovall and as high as 8,000 from JPMorgan analysts.

Investors have ample reasons for optimism heading into 2025 and beyond, but they will be watching the Fed’s next move closely.

Fourth straight day of gains for U.S. stocks. Major indexes closed higher on Wednesday, lifted by technology firms such as Oracle and Nvidia. Asia‑Pacific markets also advanced on Thursday, with India’s Nifty 50 and BSE Sensex reaching record highs.

Apple’s smartphone shipments set to overtake Samsung. Counterpoint Research projects Apple will ship roughly 243 million iPhones this year, surpassing Samsung’s 235 million units—the first time in 14 years Apple has outpaced its South Korean rival.

China’s industrial profits decline in October. The National Bureau of Statistics reported a 5.5 % year‑over‑year drop, the steepest slide since June, as ongoing trade tensions with the United States weigh on export volumes.

AI could replace 11.7 % of the U.S. workforce, MIT finds. The study simulated 151 million workers across finance, health care and professional services, estimating a potential $1.2 trillion wage impact.

Bitcoin may continue battling headwinds. The cryptocurrency has lost more than 20 % in November, and Compass Point predicts further declines through year‑end, citing regulatory uncertainty and reduced institutional inflows.