MARKET RECAP

Last Week: Stocks fell Friday as profit-taking hit mega-cap tech, with the S&P 500 down 1.1% and the Nasdaq dropping 1.5%. Bond yields rose, with the 10-year Treasury closing above 4.6%, as markets reacted to strong economic data and inflation uncertainty.

On Our Radar: Later this morning, analysts will study the pending home sales report, which should provide a significant clue for broader consumer economic health. The earnings calendar is extremely light given the holiday-shortened week.

TOP STORY

S&P 500 Poised For Best Year Vs. Global Stocks Since 1997: Bank Of America Warns Of 2005 Rotation

The S&P 500’s dominance over global stocks may face headwinds in 2025 as Bank of America signals a shift toward international markets. Investors are watching for stimulus in Europe and China that could drive capital away from U.S. equities.

Here’s what’s behind the forecast — and how investors can stay ahead of the rotation.

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SBC Medical Pursues Further Growth Through Strategic Acquisition And Product Launch

SBC Medical (NASDAQ: SBC) is closing out 2024 with a laser focus on growth, revealing a growth strategy with a focus on the Asian and U.S. markets, including through both M&A and an organic expansion. In recent weeks, SBC Medical announced the acquisition of Singapore’s  Aesthetic Healthcare Holdings (AHH), a multi-unit owner of aesthetic treatment clinics in Singapore. The all-cash transaction is reflective of SBC Medical’s acquisitiveness and confidence as it capitalizes on a resilient consumer. On the organic growth side, SBC Medical has launched a B2B wellness offering for its corporate clients designed to promote employee wellness, leading to greater recruitment and loyalty. Investors who would like to learn more about SBC Medical’s aggressive growth strategy can explore the latest announcements here.

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FIVE ZINGERS

Bear Den: Shares of ExxonMobil printed the dreaded death cross, where the longer moving average falls below the shorter average. Learn about the potential implications for XOM stock moving forward.

Smoked Out: Although the political ecosystem talked a good game regarding cannabis legalization, 2024 turned out to be more talk than anything. Still, read about the positive angle regarding the 'botanical' environment.

Inside Dealings: Cybersecurity specialist CrowdStrike saw its shares trade down sharply, largely due to insider selling. Discover how technical analysis can be used to decipher next moves in CRWD stock.

Crypto Crackdown: Montenegro's justice system authorized the extradition of Terraform Labs co-founder Do Kwon to the U.S. Kwon was a central figure in the 2022 collapse of the TerraUSD stablecoin and sister asset Luna.

Diplomatic Incident: South Korea's opposition party voted to impeach acting President Han Duck-soo, only two weeks after impeaching President Yoon Suk Yeol. Here's what that means for the nation's top securities.

SPECIAL OFFER

5 Stocks Investors Secretly Monitor But Don't Talk About Yet

Each week, Benzinga’s Stock Whisper Index uses a combination of proprietary data and pattern recognition to showcase five stocks that are just under the surface and deserve attention.

Investors are constantly on the hunt for undervalued, under-followed and emerging stocks. With countless methods available to retail traders, the challenge often lies in sifting through the abundance of information to uncover new opportunities and understand why certain stocks should be of interest.

SEALSQ Corp (LAES): The microchip company linked to the quantum computing sector saw a surge of interest from Benzinga readers and in its share price over the last week.

The company announced Thursday it received formal written notice from the Nasdaq for regained compliance for the minimum bid price for shares. SEALSQ previously received a letter in August with shares under $1.

To keep reading, and get the other four Whisper Index stocks, sign up for Benzinga Edge here.

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