Economist Mark Zandi sees the Fed surprising with three rate cuts in first half of 2026

Economist Mark Zandi sees the Fed surprising with three rate cuts in first half of 2026

Labor market weakness, uncertainty about inflation and political pressure will push the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates aggressively in the early part of 2026, according to Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Analytics. Though markets and Fed officials themselves see only modest easing in the year ahead, Zandi expects the central bank to enact…

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Newly spun off Qnity proves it’s an AI force that investors should not ignore

Newly spun off Qnity proves it’s an AI force that investors should not ignore

Qnity Electronics on Thursday reported strong fourth-quarter results alongside rosy guidance, solidifying its reputation as an under-the-radar beneficiary of the artificial intelligence boom. Revenue in the fourth quarter increased 8% from a year ago to $1.19 billion, outpacing the $1.16 billion expected by LSEG. Earnings per share (EPS) fell 5.7% year over year to 82…

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Small caps to beat large next year as economy broadens out, M&A picks up, Jefferies says

Small caps to beat large next year as economy broadens out, M&A picks up, Jefferies says

Jefferies believes that small-cap stocks will usurp their larger counterparts in 2026 to lead the market higher. In a Tuesday note to clients, Jefferies strategist Steven DeSanctis set his 2026 year-end target for the Russell 2000 small-cap index to 2,825. DeSanctis is known as a top small-caps analyst on Wall Street. The Russell 2000 has…

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Nikkei 225, Kospi, Hang Seng Index

Nikkei 225, Kospi, Hang Seng Index

Atlantide Phototravel | Corbis Documentary | Getty Images Asia-Pacific markets traded subdued as Japan’s long-dated government bond yields hit new highs, with investors also weighing renewed U.S. tariff threats tied to Greenland. European states are reportedly discussing counter-tariffs and broader punitive economic measures in response to fresh tariff threats from President Donald Trump, further straining…

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LITE, NOW, SNDK & more

LITE, NOW, SNDK & more

Check out the companies making the biggest moves premarket: Lumentum Holdings , Coherent — Lumentum shares jumped 5% after its CEO told Bloomberg that the optical and photonic producer’s products are booked through 2027, amid the artificial intelligence buildout. Shares of Coherent, another photonics company, were up 4%. Both companies have investments from Nvidia ….

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