Stocks gain on Black Friday as indexes look to have their best week since June; The technological failure led to a long-term suspension of trading overnight

Currently, the biggest changes on the stock exchanges: Intel’s price increases, Nvidia and Oracle’s slippage; Bitcoin price close to $92,000

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Shares of US chipmaker Intel led the S&P index higher as its shares rose during a holiday-shortened Black Friday session that was expected to be weak trading volume and corporate news.

In late morning trading, all three major indexes posted modest gains, led by the blue-chip Dow. This is followed by a shortened day for traders yesterday’s Christmas break: The stock market closes at 1 p.m. and the bond market is scheduled to close an hour later.

Intel (INT) was the largest percentage move in both directions for the S&P 500, rising about 8%. Drug manufacturer Eli Lilly (LLY) recorded the largest decline, falling by almost 3%.

Among the biggest changers were several consumer-focused companies on Black Fridayan important shopping day in stationary and online stores. Brown-Forman (BF.A, BF.B), known for, among others, Jack Daniel’s whiskey and Herradura tequila, increased by 1.5%, while the sportswear company Lululemon (LULU) was over 2% higher. Consumer electronics retailer Best Buy (BBY), which reported its latest quarterly financial results earlier this weekwas over 1% lower.

Shares of some well-known companies related to the development of artificial intelligence fell today. Nvidia (NVDA) was recently down 1.8%, while Oracle (ORCL) decreased by 2.2%. Shares of both companies were among the biggest decliners on the S&P 500. Overall, Big Tech crept higher: Roundhill Magnificent Seven ETF (WAREHOUSES) has recently increased by 0.3%.

Shares of the Coinbase Global cryptocurrency exchange (COIN) have recently increased by almost 4%. Cathie Wood’s ARK Funds announced a stock purchase this week; Bitcoin price recently changed hands at around $92,000, which is the leading cryptocurrency extended his rebound since the last lows. Bitcoin buyer strategy (MSTR) increased by 2.4%.

–David Marino-Nachison

Healthcare has an exclusively negative impact on the S&P 500 today

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Every one of the 11 industries tracked by the S&P 500 is in the green today, except one.

The S&P 500 Healthcare sector fell 0.6% with less than 90 minutes left in the shortened Black Friday session.

The biggest declines were recorded in shares of the pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly (LLY), whose shares have fallen by 2.7% in recent trading.

Teachings of Gilead (GUILD) and Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) were also among the sector’s biggest decliners, with both falling 1-2% on a day when the benchmark index rose 0.4% overall.

Sandisk joined the S&P 500 today. Its stock has seen tremendous growth this year

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Sandisk shares rose on Friday as the data storage company joined the benchmark S&P 500 index.

Sandisk (SNDK) the company’s stock jumped to nearly 11% on Friday morning before giving up most of its early gains. His shares that they have were lifted by demand fueled by the artificial intelligence boom, are among the hottest this year; the company was spun off from Western Digital (WDC) in February and since then the stock has increased by more than 500%. According to data from Visible Alpha, the company’s market capitalization exceeds $31 billion.

The place in the S&P 500 index was available thanks to the completion of the Omnicom Group project (OMC) takeover of the Interpublic Group (IPG) earlier this week. The two previous companies to join the index, Solstice Advance Materials (SALT) and Quantity (Q), there were also spinoff products.

Investors generally welcome company shares being added to the S&P 500 and other major indexes, which is seen as providing them with a short-term boost.

Read the full article Here.

–David Marino-Nachison

Cryptocurrency-related stocks rise with the price of Bitcoin

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Some of the biggest gainers during this shortened Black Friday session were cryptocurrency-related stocks.

MARA Holdings shares (MARA), Strategy (MSTR) and Coinbase Global (COIN) in the last quotations increased by 7%, 5% and 5%, respectively.

Coinbase posted one of the biggest gains on the S&P 500 benchmark, while Strategy posted the biggest gains on the tech-heavy Nasdaq index.

Bitcoin was trading near an intraday high of around $92,700.

Tilray shares plummet as cannabis company announces 1-for-10 reverse split that takes effect next week

1 hour 59 minutes ago

Almost six months ago Tilray Brands (TLRY) shareholders approved 1 out of 10 reverse stock split. Now the cannabis company has announced an effective date, and shares are falling.

Tilray Brands, which describes itself as a “global lifestyle and consumer packaged goods company at the forefront of the global cannabis, beverage and wellness industries,” announced late Wednesday that the reverse split will take effect after markets close next Monday, December 1. When markets open on Tuesday, its shares will begin trading on an adjusted split basis under the same ticket symbol but with a new CUSIP number88688T209.

At a special meeting on June 10, Tilray shareholders approved a proposal to allow a reverse split, which Tilray said would make it “more attractive to institutional shareholders” and reduce annual meeting expenses “which will result in savings of up to $1 million on an annualized basis.”

Starting Tuesday, every 10 shares of common stock will be automatically combined and converted into one, reducing the number of shares outstanding from about 1.16 billion shares to 116 million. Tilray said fractional shares would not be issued.

Tilray Brands shares fell 19% in the first 30 minutes of Friday’s trading session. This year they are down about 40%.

Holiday budgets are growing. See a comparison of your expenses

2 hours 26 minutes ago

After a difficult year for the U.S. economy, the holidays are upon us, and Americans still expect to spend significantly more this year than they did in 2024.

According to a BMO survey of 2,500 people, shoppers expect to spend an average of $2,800 this holiday season, an increase of more than $1,000 from last year. Of all generations, millennials expect to spend the most – around $4,400. Meanwhile, baby boomers expect to spend at least – $1,600.

Although inflation has declined from its recent peak in the summer of 2022, high prices continue to burden consumers. From September prices increased by 3% year over year, in part due to tariffs imposed by the Trump administration on imported goods.

As a result, more than three in five (62%) BMO survey respondents said they were changing the way they shop due to price uncertainty related to tariffs.

Read the full article Here.

–Trina Paul

Gotta Catch ‘Em All: Retailers Loading Sports Cards, Pokémon and Other Trading Cards

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Americans’ love for trading cards has retailers lining up to sell them.

Dick’s Sporting Goods (DKS) has opened so-called Collectors Club Houses in 20 stores and plans to put them in more locations, CEO Lauren Hobart said this week on a conference call. Spaces that feature trading cards and signed sports memorabilia are emerging as retailers rush to capitalize on surging demand for collectibles.

According to a transcript provided by Alpha Sense, consumer response “exceeded our expectations,” Hobart said. “This is a unique and rapidly growing category that perfectly complements everything we do, and we are very excited about the opportunities ahead.”

Trading cards became almost ubiquitous, popping up everywhere at Costco (COST) to a mom and pop wine bar. Demand for “high-velocity items like Pokémon cards” prompted Costco to do so create a digital waiting room for the e-commerce platform, said CEO Ronald Vachris. The cards are expected to be a hit this holiday season at Kohl’s (KSS), Best Buy (BBY) and target (plane ticket), their executives said on a conference call this week.

Target has developed a diverse collection business, including Magic the Gathering, National Football League, Major League Baseball and Women’s National Basketball Association cards, said Chief Merchandising Officer Rick Gomez. It entered the category after card sales at big box stores jumped nearly 70% in the first six or seven months of the year, Gomez said in August.

Read the full article Here.

–Sarina suffocated

Soft drinks are booming and the era of “self-prohibition” is gaining momentum

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When Spirited Away, a non-alcoholic bottle shop, opened in Manhattan five years ago, its owner found a dozen options for stocking shelves. According to co-owner Alex Highsmith, the store currently offers about 300 brands.

Meanwhile, the business is growing at a double-digit rate year by year. Customers, she added, try to avoid alcohol – for example by testing “Dry January” – decide they like the way they feel and then “come back.”

This sentiment has helped retailers selling only non-alcoholic beer, wine and spirits grow as alcohol consumption declines.

Today, fewer and fewer Americans drink alcohol, and those who do are limiting their alcohol intake. According to Gallup, as of August, about 54% of adults say they drink, the lowest rate recorded in 90 years. Respondents reported drinking an average of 2.8 drinks in the past week, compared to 3.8 drinks in 2024 and even more in previous years. Research by Jefferies shows that this change is most pronounced among young Americans, with people under 25 drinking 17% less than older people.

Read the full article here.

–Sarina suffocated

Stock futures rise before technology failure halts trading

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Futures contracts tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.1% before trading halted.

S&P 500 futures also rose 0.1% before the trading freeze.

Nasdaq 100 futures rose 0.2% before stopping.