After Weak Jobs Data, Focus Shifts to Thursday’s CPI 17/12/2025

HOT stories for today

Market wrap:

• U.S. equities closed mostly lower Tuesday as investors digested fresh labor-market data. The S&P 500 slipped 0.2%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 302 points, or 0.6%, marking a third straight day of losses for both gauges. Select technology shares helped lift the Nasdaq Composite. Energy stocks lagged after U.S. crude settled at its lowest level since early 2021 amid concerns about a looming supply surplus. Exxon Mobil and Chevron each declined about 2%. Earlier, the Labor Department released its November jobs report, which also included delayed October data due to a federal reporting backlog tied to this fall’s government shutdown. The release offered a more transparent snapshot of the economy’s health. 
• There were pockets of strength. Tesla climbed to a record above $489 after a video circulated showing a Model Y operating without a driver on an Austin highway. On the economic calendar, Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller and New York Fed President John Williams are scheduled to speak on Wednesday, while investors are looking ahead to Thursday’s November consumer price index report. Overseas, Asia-Pacific markets traded mixed as investors assessed Japan’s trade figures, while shares of Chinese chipmaker MetaX surged nearly 700% in its Shanghai debut. European markets were set for a softer open amid weakening sentiment.

Tesla Notches First Record Close Year on AI Optimism

• Tesla Inc. shares posted their first record close in almost a year, extending a rally driven by optimism around artificial intelligence, robotics, and Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk’s long-term commitment to the company. The stock closed at $489.88 on Tuesday, its highest finish on record and the first since Dec. 17, 2024, according to Dow Jones Market Data. Shares also traded above $490 intraday for the first time. The move caps a volatile year. Tesla shares sank to $221.86 in April amid political backlash and slower sales in China, raising concerns about demand and an annual sales decline. 
• Sentiment has since improved as Tesla advanced its AI and robotics initiatives and investors approved a compensation package tying Musk to the company for at least another decade. Expectations around a potential SpaceX public listing have also supported the stock. The latest gains follow Musk’s confirmation that Tesla has begun testing fully autonomous vehicles in Austin, Texas. Wedbush analyst Daniel Ives said Tesla’s AI and robotics strategy could lift the company’s valuation to as much as $3 trillion by the end of 2026.

Stocks on the move:

• Shares of homebuilder Lennar (LEN) fell about 4% after the company issued weaker-than-expected guidance for the first quarter.
• Medical supply company Medline (MDLN) upsized its initial public offering by $1 billion, bringing the total deal size to roughly $6.2 billion and implying a market capitalization of about $53.4 billion. The shares were priced at $29 apiece, near the top of the marketed range, CNBC reported.
• Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) is preparing to reject a hostile takeover proposal from Skydance-backed Paramount (PSKY), Bloomberg reported late Tuesday. The news sent PSKY shares slightly lower in post-market trading. Separately, Jared Kushner is reported to have withdrawn from the takeover effort.

Watchlist: TSLA, AAPL, AVGO, ORCL, NVDA, COIN, MU, GIS, JBL

Key Economic Events Today:

EST time

08:15 am: USD FOMC Member Waller Speaks
09:05 am: USD FOMC Member Williams Speaks
10:30 am: USD Crude Oil Inventories
12:30 pm: USD FOMC Member Bostic Speaks



Earnings

BMO (Before Market Open): General Mills (GIS), Jabil (JBL), Toro Company (TTC), ABM Industries (ABM)
AMC (Ater Market Close): Micron Technology (MU), MillerKnoll (MLKN), Enerpac Tool (EPAC)




The TEFS Analyst team wishes you a successful day!