January 2, 2025

Markets:

Stock futures were higher on Thursday as trading got underway for 2025, with hopes that the market can regain the momentum that propelled the S&P 500 to log two-straight years of annual gains above 20%.

Although stocks fell in the final days of 2024, the year still produced solid returns. The S&P 500 surged 23% last year, while the 30-stock Dow added nearly 13%. Fueled by the enthusiasm around artificial intelligence and interest rate cuts, the Nasdaq Composite outperformed with a 29% advance.

The holiday-shortened week has been light on economic data, but Thursday will bring a look at weekly jobless claims that will offer a read on how the labor market is faring.

European markets kicked off 2025 trading on a positive note, with the cross-European Stoxx 600 adding 0.28% by 8:11 a.m. London time.

Crypto prices were also moving higher, potentially pointing to a broader risk-on move for the day. The iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) was up more than 3% in premarket trading.

Portfolio:

Happy New Year!!  Really glad to get through that horrendous period of trading over the last several sessions.  No volume, highlight manipulated type of trading was just awful.  We should begin to see traders return today along with volume but the full lot of vol will return on Monday, that start of a new full trading week.  This has typically been the pattern the last few years.  

It was a great 2024 and we expect an even better 2025 with massive opportunity.  Tech cycle, new administration, new policies, and new sector rotations.  2025 will be a fantastic year to trade.  

As difficult as the last few sessions were for traders it did provide one absolute certain thing; opportunity!  Understand this.  Here is our chance now to get in at better prices and attack this market.  Charts and price action have been massive of late and we expect a number of breakouts and breakdowns to emerge from this.  

No changes needed with current holding of AAPU.  We do want to add so please be ready!