Episode 1239: Thursday - December 18, 2025

Market Recap: Thursday, December 18 - Modest Gains and Inflation Insights

In this episode of Dividend Cafe, host Brian Szytel provides an update on the market movements for Thursday, December 18. The DOW closed with a modest gain of 65 points (0.14%), S&P increased by 0.8%, and NASDAQ saw a tech-led rally with a 1.38% rise. Despite a rebound, the week is expected to end negatively for stocks overall. A key focus is the release of the latest CPI print, which showed a surprisingly low inflation rate of 2.7% versus the expected 3.1%, but the numbers are questionable due to a government shutdown affecting data collection. Initial jobless claims came in line with consensus at 224,000, while continuing claims were slightly below expectations. The Philly Fed Index reported a weaker-than-expected manufacturing number at -10 versus the expected +3. Brian also discusses the interplay between inflation rates and the role of the Fed, emphasizing that market forces and money supply are critical factors. He wraps up with light-hearted remarks about holiday shopping and extends holiday greetings to viewers.

00:00 Market Update: December 18th

00:10 Stock and Bond Performance

00:59 CPI Report Analysis

02:01 Economic Calendar Highlights

02:45 Inflation and The Fed's Role

04:24 Closing Remarks and Holiday Wishes

Links mentioned in this episode: DividendCafe.com

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