STOCK PRICES AND NEWS
Why buying Build-a-Bear Workshop could be an early Christmas present
When I look at Build-A-Bear Workshop right now, what immediately stands out to me is the technicals. The stock is currently breaking out of a downsloping trendline, which is something I always pay close attention to when evaluating potential upside opportunities.
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NASDAQ
Latest Nasdaq News
S&P 500
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US EQUITY INDICES
The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) is a price-weighted average of 30 most-traded stocks traded in the United States (US). It is often viewed as representative of “old economy” stocks and is considered a leading indicator for international investment.
While the Dow reflects the big money, the Standard and Poor’s 500 (S&P 500) is often the preferred gauge of equity markets due to its broad market coverage. The S&P 500 is a market value-weighted index comprising 500 large US stocks, covering about 75% of the US equity market.
The Nasdaq Composite is highly followed in the US as a performance indicator for technology and growth companies. The Nasdaq-100, which includes 100 of the largest non-financial companies in the Nasdaq Composite, accounts for about 80% of the index weighting of the Nasdaq Composite. The Nasdaq Composite is a capitalization-weighted index and it includes both US and non-US companies listed on the Nasdaq stock market. The NASDAQ represents the speculative retail money.
Generally speaking, a rise in the US equity markets tends to increase investors' risk appetite attracting foreign investment to the US equity market and pumping the US Dollar (USD) higher.
EUROPEAN EQUITY INDICES
Germany DAX - Daily
UK FTSE 100 - Daily
The DAX is a stock market index consisting of the 40 major German blue chip companies trading on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. It is a total return index and prices are taken from the Xetra trading venue.
The Financial Times Stock Exchange 100 (FTSE 100), informally known as the “Footsie”, is a market capitalization-weighted index representing the top 100 blue-chip companies on the London Stock Exchange. The index represents over 80% of the total market capitalization in the United Kingdom (UK). Stocks in the FTSE 100 are free-float weighted, ensuring that only the investable opportunity set is included in the index.
JAPANESE EQUITY INDICES
The Nikkei 225, commonly called the Nikkei, is a stock market index for the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE). It is a price-weighted index, operating in Japanese Yen (JPY), that measures the performance of 225 highly capitalized and liquid publicly owned companies in Japan. It has been calculated daily by the Nihon Keizai Shimbun (Nikkei) newspaper since 1970.
Nikkei225 - Daily
Relationships between stocks and currencies
Currencies are probably the most difficult asset class to fit into a consistent intermarket model. For instance, when investors purchase stocks from a particular country, they must pay in the local currency, increasing the demand for that currency. Conversely, a strong currency can make bonds and stocks more attractive to foreign investors.
However, the correlation between stocks and currencies is not always clear. There are often response lags between the reactions of Forex and equities markets, leaving investors holding foreign equities exposed to exchange rate fluctuations.
This correlation is also fragile among international equity markets. The so-called global divergences occur when the stock market in one country starts performing better than the stock market in another country. This is often driven by currency capital flows from the country with the weaker stock market to the country with the stronger one.
US Dollar Index - Daily
Latest STOCK INDICES Analysis
Editors' picks
EUR/USD recovers to 1.1750 region as 2025 draws to a close
Following the bearish action seen in the European session on Wednesday, EUR/USD regains its traction and recovery to the 1.1750 region. Nevertheless, the pair's volatility remains low as trading conditions thin out on the last day of the year.
GBP/USD stays weak near 1.3450 on modest USD recovery
GBP/USD remains under modest beairsh pressure and fluctuates at around 1.3450 on Wednesday. The US Dollar finds fresh demand due to the end-of-the-year position adjustments, weighing on the pair amid the pre-New Year trading lull.
Gold retreats to $4,300 area, looks to post monthly gains
Gold stays on the back foot on the last day of 2025 and trades near $4,300, possibly pressured by profit-taking and position adjustments. Nevertheless, XAU/USD remains on track to post gains for December and extend its winning streak into a fifth consecutive month.
Bitcoin, Ethereum and XRP prepare for a potential New Year rebound
Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Ripple are holding steady on Wednesday after recording minor gains on the previous day. Technically, Bitcoin could extend gains within a triangle pattern while Ethereum and Ripple face critical overhead resistance.
Here is what you need to know on Wednesday, December 31:
The US Dollar (USD) Index extends its recovery heading toward the end of the year and trades at a fresh nine-day high above 98.30 on Wednesday. The US Department of Labor will publish the weekly Initial Jobless Claims data later in the day. The New York Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq will operate on a regular schedule on New Year's Eve but the US bond markets will close early. Both markets will be closed on January 1.