Wall Street opened the week near record highs, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq holding their gains as the Federal Reserve begins its two-day policy meeting. Investors are almost certain the Fed will shave 25 basis points off rates — the first cut in nine months — but the bigger question is how many more cuts will follow. 

Meanwhile, bond yields are clinging just under 4%, signaling that despite the optimism over rate cuts, the markets aren’t quite convinced inflation and tightening pressures are behind us. 

The U.S. dollar has slipped modestly, while gold is scaling fresh highs, this is a classic sign that traders are hedging against any surprises from the Fed. 

In the corporate world:

The government’s retail sales report comes out today, giving a direct read on consumer spending. It’s a key piece of economic data that will shape how traders position ahead of Powell’s remarks tomorrow. If sales slow sharply, it could force markets to reprice expectations.

Recession fears are easing, inflation remains sticky, but the market is creating perfect conditions for the right stocks.

Not just any stocks — Zacks experts have pinpointed 5 with huge potential for big gains.

Are you ready to profit while other investors sit on the sidelines?

👉 See the stocks right here — absolutely FREE.

Alphabet just crossed the $3 trillion mark and has now outpaced Nvidia in year-to-date performance. The move shows how quickly leadership can shift inside the AI trade. Nvidia is facing pressure from China’s antitrust probe, while Alphabet is riding new momentum from its cloud and AI tools.

Investor Takeaway: Big Tech is still leading, but the winners keep rotating. That shift matters for sector funds and for anyone trading AI-linked earnings.

Apple is boosting its U.S. manufacturing footprint, and Tim Cook says it could set off a domino effect across the supply chain. That means more American suppliers, more jobs, and stronger political goodwill.

Investor Takeaway: Apple is hedging against trade shocks while winning favor in Washington. The bigger question for investors is whether others follow. If suppliers move more production to the U.S., it doesn’t just mean new factories, it means long cycles of spending on equipment, real estate, and jobs. For investors, that’s the kind of ripple effect that can lift entire sectors, not just Apple.

BYD and other Chinese automakers are flooding the market with cheap EVs, igniting a price war that has crushed profits. Overcapacity at home is forcing firms to push harder into Europe, where tariffs have slowed but not stopped exports. Western carmakers are losing ground.

Investor Takeaway: The strong are getting stronger. BYD, Geely, and newer EV players are still gaining share, while Ford and Volkswagen face shrinking margins. What happens in China’s auto sector won’t stay in China — it’s reshaping the competitive map for the entire global industry.

The Trump administration has revoked Delta and Aeromexico’s antitrust immunity, ruling their partnership hurt competition on Mexico City routes. The deal, in place since 2016, must be unwound by January 1.

Investor Takeaway: Delta says flights will continue, but the breakup comes as airlines already face cost pressures. It’s a reminder that policy risk remains a real headwind for global carriers.

Tencent plans to raise about $1 billion through “dim sum” bonds in Hong Kong, its the first such sale since 2021. The deal follows similar fundraisings by Alibaba and Baidu as Chinese tech firms rush to bankroll AI and cloud expansion.

Investor Takeaway: The race for AI capital isn’t slowing. By issuing bonds in Hong Kong, Tencent gains more flexibility while sidestepping mainland controls… and it shows that global investors are still backing China’s tech giants.

Do you have money in any of these banks?

Chase. Bank of America. Citigroup. Wells Fargo. U.S. Bancorp.

If you do…

Click here now because they're preparing for what could be the biggest change to our financial system in 54 years.

This could have a huge impact on your wealth.

Markets are steady at record highs, but all eyes are on the Fed. A quarter-point cut looks certain. The real question is whether it’s a one-time move or the start of a series.

Today’s headlines feed that theme. Alphabet overtaking Nvidia shows how fast tech leadership can flip. 

Apple’s U.S. push shows politics reshaping strategy. 

China’s EV price war is making its strongest firms stronger while Western rivals struggle. 

Delta’s breakup order shows policy risk hitting airlines. 

And Tencent’s bond sale proves China’s tech giants still have access to global capital.

The signal is clear: policy and politics are steering markets as much as earnings. The Fed may set the tone tomorrow, but what happens in Beijing, Mexico City, and Silicon Valley will decide how long these highs last.