5 Things to Know Before the Stock Market Opens on Monday

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Here are five key items investors should consider as the market opens:

The S&P 500, Nasdaq and Dow are freshly out of two consecutive weeks of gains. The S&P 500 closed Friday near its year‑to‑date record, buoyed by a softer‑than‑expected September core PCE price index. That reading—still a core inflation metric—suggested price pressures may be easing, feeding speculation that the Federal Reserve could start cutting rates at its final meeting of the year.

• The delayed September personal consumption expenditures (PCE) report showed core inflation running below consensus on a 12‑month basis.
• Traders interpreted the data as a green light for a potential rate cut, lifting equities on Friday.
• The Federal Reserve is expected to announce its decision on Wednesday. CME’s FedWatch tool currently prices a 90 % probability of another rate reduction.
• Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent projects U.S. real GDP growth of roughly 3 % for the year despite the recent government shutdown.
• Following a four‑day winning streak, the S&P 500 sits about 0.7 % shy of its intraday record and a quarter‑percent below its recent closing high.

Technical analysts note that the index is perched near a key resistance level; a breakout could trigger algorithmic buying, while a pullback may test the 50‑day moving average.

Berkshire Hathaway announced that Todd Combs, who serves as an investment officer and is also CEO of GEICO, will depart to lead JPMorgan Chase’s newly created Security and Resiliency Initiative. Warren Buffett, who will step down as CEO at year‑end, praised Combs for “making many great hires” at GEICO and expanding its business horizons.

Geico will be led by Nancy Pierce, its current operations chief. Additionally, CFO Marc Hamburg plans to retire in June 2027 and will be succeeded by Charles Chang, currently CFO of Berkshire Hathaway Energy.

From a governance perspective, the transition highlights Berkshire’s focus on strengthening risk management across its diversified portfolio—an area increasingly scrutinized by regulators and institutional investors.

The proposed merger between Netflix and Warner Bros. Discovery has sent shockwaves through both Wall Street and Hollywood. While the deal could create the world’s largest streaming‑film conglomerate, it must clear a gauntlet of antitrust reviews.

U.S. officials have expressed “heavy skepticism,” and Senator Elizabeth Warren has called for a formal antitrust investigation, labeling the combination an “anti‑monopoly nightmare.”

Paramount Skydance is reportedly contemplating a direct bid to Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders as a defensive move, hoping to leverage regulatory concerns to its advantage.

Industry analysts warn that if the merger proceeds, traditional theater chains could face an accelerated decline in box‑office revenue, forcing them to re‑evaluate their business models and explore more immersive experiences or premium‑ticket pricing.

Strategically, Netflix would gain control over a deep slate of intellectual property, potentially improving content cost efficiencies and subscriber retention, but it also raises questions about market concentration and pricing power for consumers.

Following last year’s antitrust ruling, Alphabet received additional guidance on the remedial measures it must implement. U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta ruled that Google cannot maintain its current exclusive deal with Apple for default search placement unless the agreement includes a termination clause of one year or less.

The judge also mandated the creation of an independent oversight committee tasked with determining the scope of data sharing required of Google. While the ruling stops short of ordering a divestiture of Chrome, it signals that regulators are willing to impose structural changes to curb market dominance.

From a technology‑policy perspective, the decision may accelerate the development of alternate search ecosystems and could spur innovation among competing browsers seeking to capture market share.

The global denim market now exceeds $100 billion, driven by retail giants such as Levi Strauss and American Eagle. Yet the product’s origins are modest: a tailor’s addition of copper rivets to reinforce miners’ trousers gave birth to the modern blue jean.

Denim’s durability and cultural versatility have allowed it to become a staple across income brackets and fashion cycles. Recent sustainability trends are prompting manufacturers to adopt recycled fibers and water‑saving dye technologies, creating new growth avenues and potential cost efficiencies.

Analysts forecast modest double‑digit revenue growth in emerging markets where urbanization is boosting demand for casual apparel, while premium “designer denim” segments continue to command higher margins.

Key data releases and earnings to watch this week:

• Monday: New York Fed’s Survey of Consumer Expectations
• Tuesday: Job Openings and Labor Turnover (JOLT) data for October
• Wednesday: Federal Reserve interest‑rate decision and press conference; Oracle and Adobe earnings (after market)
• Thursday: Lululemon, Costco and Broadcom earnings (after market)

Investors should monitor how the Fed’s guidance influences rate‑sensitive sectors, while earnings from technology and consumer discretionary firms could set the tone for the final trading week of the year.

— CNBC contributors