Today At A Glance:

Stocks rebounded Thursday, December 18, 2025, snapping a four-day losing streak for the S&P 500 as a cooler-than-expected inflation update lowered pressure on interest rates. The Nasdaq led the bounce as chip and AI-linked names stabilized, helped by Micron’s upbeat earnings/guidance and a relief rally across the semis complex. The Dow finished only modestly higher, reflecting more mixed leadership outside of tech even as risk appetite improved. Treasury yields eased on the inflation read, reinforcing the market’s view that the Fed has room to keep cutting rates in 2026 if growth cools further. Single-stock volatility remained the story under the surface, with Trump Media surging on a high-

Today’s Index Performance:

• Dow Jones Industrial Average: The index opened today at 48,101.18 and closed today at 47,951.85, a +0.14% move on the day.
• S&P 500: The index opened today at 6,778.06 and closed today at 6,774.76, a +0.79% move on the day.
• Nasdaq Composite: The index opened today at 23,012.06 and closed today at 23,006.36, a +1.38% move on the day.

Gainers Of Note:

• Trump Media & Technology Group (DJT): social-media and media/tech holding company; surged after announcing a high-profile all-stock merger tied to nuclear fusion ambitions (via TAE Technologies), igniting momentum and speculative buying.
• Rivian Automotive (RIVN): electric-vehicle manufacturer; jumped after an analyst upgrade and improved outlook discussion around product cadence and longer-term demand assumptions.
• Micron Technology (MU): memory chipmaker; climbed sharply after beating earnings expectations and issuing stronger guidance tied to AI-driven demand for advanced memory.

Losers Of Note:

• Insmed (INSM): biopharmaceutical company; dropped hard after discontinuing development of brensocatib for a sinus indication when a mid-stage trial failed to meet its primary endpoint—an outcome investors treated as a “worst-case” reset to expectations.
• Birkenstock Holding (BIRK): footwear/apparel brand; fell sharply as it traded among notable decliners in the session’s risk repricing, with investors de-risking consumer names amid ongoing macro sensitivity.
• CarMax (KMX): used-car retailer; slid after earnings even as results topped some estimates, as management commentary highlighted tighter retail margins and increased spending plans that pressured the near-term profit narrative.

Active Traders Of Note:

• NVIDIA (NVDA): AI semiconductors; heavy volume reflected “AI complex” positioning after the inflation print encouraged dip-buying and rapid re-risking in mega-cap tech.
• Tesla (TSLA): EVs/energy; remained a volume leader as high options activity and index-linked flows amplified intraday swings in rate-sensitive, high-beta megacaps.
• Apple (AAPL): consumer tech/services; strong turnover as traders rotated into liquid mega-cap bellwethers on the rate-relief narrative and broad “risk-on” rebalancing into the close.

Looking Forward:

Thursday’s rebound suggests the market is still highly sensitive to inflation and rate expectations—supportive data can quickly revive appetite for semis and mega-cap tech after sharp pullbacks. For the next trading day, watch whether the AI-led bounce broadens beyond a handful of bellwethers (MU/NVDA/ORCL/AVGO) or fades into another rotation toward defensives. Also expect continued stock-specific volatility around earnings and deal headlines, which are increasingly driving outsized moves even when index action looks orderly.

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