They’ve Pushed America To The Brink of Financial Ruin (from American Hartford Gold)
How much longer can markets ride this wave?
Rate-cut hopes pushed stocks near records while gold and silver hit new peaks.
But oil's stuck in the mud, and Trump's Fed pick could change everything.
Here's what moved markets this week.
Fed Rate Cuts Drive Year-End Rally
US stocks closed November near all-time highs as investors bet on a December rate cut.
The late-month surge pushed major indexes higher despite tech sector wobbles earlier in the month. Treasury yields jumped as traders adjusted their outlook. And Bitcoin? It dropped double digits, showing how sensitive crypto remains to any hint of policy shifts.
Key Points:
Nasdaq posted a monthly loss despite the broader rally
Rate-cut expectations now baked into market pricing
High-valuation tech stocks showed notable volatility
Trump Names Next Fed Chair Soon
President Trump told reporters he's made his choice for the next Federal Reserve chair and will announce it before Christmas.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed the timing. This matters because Jerome Powell's term doesn't end until May 2026, but Trump wants someone who'll cut rates faster than Powell has.
Kevin Hassett leads the pack, according to multiple reports. He's Trump's National Economic Council director and a close adviser.
Key Points:
Announcement expected within weeks
Kevin Hassett described as frontrunner
Markets anticipate a more dovish Fed under new leadership
Intel Surges on Apple Chip Rumors
$INTC jumped 10% Friday after reports emerged that Apple $AAPL may tap the chipmaker to produce its entry-level M-series processors starting in 2027.
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says Apple has already signed a non-disclosure agreement with Intel and obtained early design tools for Intel's advanced 18A manufacturing process.
This would mark a dramatic comeback for the partnership, five years after Apple ditched Intel chips for its own designs.
Key Points:
Intel would manufacture chips for MacBook Air and iPad Pro
TSMC would remain Apple's main supplier for higher-end chips and iPhone processors
The deal would help Apple diversify its supply chain
Production potentially starting mid-2027
Oil Prices Stay Weak
Crude oil can't catch a break. Brent sits around $63 per barrel, WTI near $59—both down sharply from earlier this year.
OPEC+ met November 30 and kept output plans unchanged through early 2026. That's not enough to fix the problem. Markets see a supply glut of 1.5 million barrels per day building, with some analysts warning prices could drop to $30 if producers don't cut deeper.
Key Points:
Brent down 12% YoY, WTI off nearly 30% from 2025 highs
OPEC+ paused production increases but didn't announce new cuts
Venezuela and Russia remain wildcards for supply
Gold & Silver All-Time High
Gold prices climbed to around $4,240 per ounce today, the highest level in six weeks, driven by rising expectations of a US interest rate cut next week.
Silver's doing even better, trading above $50 per ounce with its own fresh records. Both metals are on fire as investors pile in ahead of rate cuts and bet against the dollar. The message is clear: people want protection from policy chaos and inflation risk.
Key Points:
Gold hit all-time high above $4,200, up 60% YTD
Silver outperformed gold, breaking $50 with double-digit weekly gains
Industrial demand and hedge flows amplifying silver's move
Weaker real yields making precious metals more attractive
Tech Sector Shifts
Wall Street's talking about a rotation out of the mega-cap AI stocks that dominated 2024 and early 2025.
ETF managers say the narrow AI trade is unwinding as money flows into a broader mix of tech and cyclical names. Alphabet $GOOGL ( ▼ 1.68% ) got fresh attention after announcing progress on its Gemini 3 AI model and new Ironwood chip—an attempt to close the gap with AI leaders and boost its stock.
Key Points:
"Green light" rotation spreading beyond AI giants
Alphabet making push to compete in AI hardware and models
Earlier tech volatility reflected crowded positioning
The Bottom Line
Rate cuts are coming, Trump's reshaping the Fed, and precious metals just broke historic levels. Oil's crashing, tech's rotating.
The pieces are moving. Is your portfolio positioned for what's next?
