Week In Perspective | Stocks Take Flight for Holiday Week [1-December-25]

About the author: Lamar Watson, CFP®, is a Fee-Only Financial Advisor in the Washington, D.C., area who works with clients virtually across the country. Dream Financial Planning is a Fiduciary Financial Planning firm specifically designed to help individuals at any stage of life take control of their finances and fulfill their dreams. Feel free to schedule a Free Consultation to learn how we use the DREAM Financial Planning Process ™ to help our clients achieve their goals. 

Updated: 1-December-25

The Week on Wall Street

Stocks pushed higher over the holiday week as investors' hopes for a Fed rate adjustment drove bullish sentiment.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index rose 3.73 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index rallied 4.91 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced 3.18 percent. The MSCI EAFE Index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, increased 3.15 percent.^1,2

AI Powered 

A rebound rally began on Monday as the artificial intelligence (AI) business strategy of one of the largest megacap tech stocks reignited positive sentiment in the AI trade. The enthusiasm broadened out to a number of AI-related names, lifting the S&P 500 by 1.5 percent and the Nasdaq by 2.7 percent—its biggest one-day gain in more than six months.³

Stocks rose again on Tuesday and Wednesday—the third and fourth consecutive trading days of gains, respectively, for all three major averages.

Overall bullish holiday sentiment, positive news on a handful of AI-related megacap tech names, and continued investor optimism for the Fed to adjust rates at its next meeting powered the advances.

Markets continued their rise after the Thanksgiving holiday, with stocks rounding out the shortened trading session with a fifth consecutive day of gains.^4,5

Keeping Score on the Consumer

As we move full steam ahead into the holiday shopping season, investors are closely watching consumer data.

The fresh consumer spending data released last week was the first update. The delayed report showed the pace of retail sales in September cooled slightly over the prior month, just shy of expectations.

Next up was the Conference Board’s November survey, which showed that consumer confidence dropped to 88.7 from 99.5 in October.⁶

Investors may be anxiously awaiting the October retail sales report and closely monitoring other consumer data points for clues about the future direction of the economy.

This Week: Key Economic Data

Monday: PMI Manufacturing Index. ISM Manufacturing.
Tuesday: Auto Sales.
Wednesday: ADP Employment Report. Import Prices (Sept.)* PMI Services Index. ISM Services.
Thursday: Weekly Jobless Claims. Trade Deficit (Oct.)
Friday: Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) Price Index (Sept.)*

_{* indicates publication of a report that had been delayed by the government shutdown
Source: Investors Business Daily - Econoday economic calendar; November 28, 2025
The Econoday economic calendar lists upcoming U.S. economic data releases (including key economic indicators), Federal Reserve policy meetings, and speaking engagements of Federal Reserve officials. The content is developed from sources believed to provide accurate information. The forecasts or forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and may not materialize. The forecasts are also subject to revision.}

This Week: Companies Reporting Earnings

Tuesday: CrowdStrike (CRWD), Marvell Technology, Inc. (MRVL)
Wednesday: Salesforce Inc. (CRM), Snowflake Inc. (SNOW)
Thursday: The Kroger Co. (KR)
_{Source: Zacks, November 28, 2025
Companies mentioned are for informational purposes only. It should not be considered a solicitation for the purchase or sale of the securities. Investing involves risks, and investment decisions should be based on your goals, time horizon, and risk tolerance. The return and principal value of investments will fluctuate as market conditions change. When sold, investments may be worth more or less than their original cost. Companies may reschedule their earnings reports without notice.}

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The first thing I do for new clients is assess their current financial situation. We do this with the aid of financial planning software. We review assets, liabilities, income, and expenses. If you'd like to test drive my comprehensive financial planning software, visit Right Capital and create a profile. View this Right Capital video to learn more.

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Tax preparation is now part of the ongoing financial planning program. This will be in addition to the Tax Report and Tax Planning we already generate for clients. We also use the IRS Withholding Calculator to help prevent our clients from getting a surprise tax bill.

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If you’d like to review your risk tolerance, complete our risk tolerance questionnaire. This will give you your personalized risk number as seen on page 1 of the sample portfolio above. Feel free to check out the article 10 Best Tips for Beginning Investors from U.S. News where I shared a few investment tips.

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This is where we bring everything together. Take a look at the links below for examples of some of the deliverables we prepare for clients.

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If you're looking for a cost-effective solution to get your estate planning documents in place, we can help. We have partnered with a leading Estate Planning platform to deliver high-quality Estate Planning documents for a fraction of the cost of working with an attorney. I included a blog post below that highlights the key documents that should be in your Estate Plan and my normal pricing.

What's In Your Estate Plan?

Revocable Living Trust-Based Estate Plan

• Individual - $1,600
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• Individual - $900
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I hope we get the opportunity to work together. If you'd like to see if any of these services are a good fit for you, feel free to schedule a free consultation or send me an e-mail.

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