Asia stocks set for mixed start after Fed decision
Asian stocks looked set for a mixed start Thursday following a rally in U.S. equities spurred by speculation that Federal Reserve policy tightening will help fight inflation without derailing economic growth.
Australian shares edged down, futures climbed for Japan but those for Hong Kong slid amid concerns about more U.S. sanctions on Chinese companies. $S&P 500 Index(.SPX.US)$ and $NASDAQ 100 Index(.NDX.US)$ contracts climbed. Technology shares led U.S. equities to a strong close after initial declines following the Fed statement.
Fed doubles taper, signals three 2022 hikes in inflation pivot
Heralding one of the most hawkish policy pivots in years, the central bank said Wednesday it will double the pace at which it's scaling back purchases of Treasuries and mortgage-backed securities to $30 billion a month, putting it on track to conclude the program in early 2022, rather than mid-year as initially planned.
Big tech bulls are vindicated even after Fed pulls the trigger
Investors gobbled up megacap technology stocks Wednesday. $Apple(AAPL.US)$ was the hot pick, rising as much as 2.9%. The world's largest company by market value is roughly 2% short of hitting a $3 trillion valuation. Megacap peers $Microsoft(MSFT.US)$ and Google-owner $Alphabet-A(GOOGL.US)$ also rallied off day's lows and were about 5% away from their all-time highs. The tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 was the best performing major average, rising 2.4%.
Goldman, BNY Mellon join ESG-fund stampede with 4 new ETFs
The furious pace of green-fund launches in the U.S. ETF industry showed no sign of easing Wednesday.
For example, the $GOLDMAN SACHS ACTIVEBETA PARIS-ALIGNED CLIMATE U.S. LARGE CAP EQUITY ETF(GPAL.US)$ will track an index that aligns with the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement. The $BNY MELLON SUSTAINABLE US EQUITY ETF(BKUS.US)$ will invest at least 80% of its net assets in U.S. companies that demonstrate sustainable business practices.
Elon Musk: 'I'll be surprised if we're not landing on Mars within five years'
Musk, the 50-year-old SpaceX founder and CEO who was named Time's Person of the Year, has big plans for the Red Planet: namely, a self-sustained city with solar-powered hydroponic farms where humans can permanently live, 34 million miles away from Earth.
Small-business owners had a devastating year — but they finally have hope now, according to a new survey
According to a new survey from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Small Business Index and insurance giant MetLife, 77% of small-business owners say they're optimistic about the future of their business, and 62% say their business is in good health. Nearly half say they plan to spend more money next year than they did this year.
Investors challenge concealment clauses at large tech groups
Seven of the largest US technology companies, including $Alphabet-A(GOOGL.US)$, $Amazon(AMZN.US)$ and $Meta Platforms(FB.US)$, are facing investor pressure to publish more information about their non-disclosure agreements and other concealment clauses in employment contracts.
Amid growing investor support for employee rights issues, the seven shareholder proposals filed ahead of the companies' 2022 annual general meetings requested information about the risks posed by concealment clauses.
American consumer momentum wanes just in time for the holidays
The effects of financial stimulus are wearing off and the savings rate as a percentage of disposable household income has drifted down to 2019 levels. In other words, the tailwinds pushing the spending boom are easing and momentum is waning. The result is a new, relatively flatter year-to-date trend line.
November retail sales increased 0.3% from October, falling short of the expected 0.8% rise.
Source: Bloomberg, CNBC, Financial Times

The California State Teachers' Retirement System, the second-largest public pension by assets in the U.S., bought more shares of movie-theater chain $AMC Entertainment(AMC.US)$ and analytics-software firm $Snowflake(SNOW.US)$, acquired shares of the $Tilray Brands(TLRY.US)$, and reduced its holdings in $Berkshire Hathaway-B(BRK.B.US)$, Buffett's investment juggernaut. Calstrs, as the pension is known, disclosed the stock trades, among others, in a form it filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Calstrs said it doesn't comment on its holdings or on individual investment managers. The pension managed $321.9 billion in assets as of Oct. 31.
AMC stock caught fire during the meme-stock frenzy early in the year, when small investors communicating via social media bought shares of beaten-down companies in hopes of triggering gains that would force people who had bet against those stocks to buy in order to close their bets. The trend led to a surge in volatility that prompted the Federal Reserve to warn this month that meme-stock related market swings could be a risk to the financial system. AMC's third-quarter results were better than expected, and the chain is now accepting cryptocurrencies for online payments.
Yesterday, AMC shares fell 15% to their lowest close since May. The Omicron variant of coronavirus has revived fears that new lockdowns could keep movie-goers away from theaters.
Mooers, what do you think of the giant pension's investment in these most-volatile stocks?

$Palantir(PLTR.US)$ $MERCK KGAA SPON ADR EACH REPR 0.2 ORD SHS(MKKGY.US)$
Palantir Technologies (PLTR.US) and German Merck (MKKGY.US) have reached a cooperation to provide Athinia, a big data collaborative analysis platform for the semiconductor industry.
Athinia platform will use artificial intelligence (AI) and big data to solve the challenges of semiconductor chip shortage, supply chain transparency, time to market and product quality.
The collaboration will be led by Laura Matz, Merck’s Chief Science and Technology Officer. The Athinia platform will bring semiconductor manufacturers and material suppliers together to share, aggregate and analyze data.
In addition, the platform will also provide more in-depth guidance for materials and processes in semiconductor manufacturing plants.
Article excerpted from the US Stock Research Agency

By Danilo
Hey, mooers! Here are things you need to know before the opening bell:
- Stock futures jumped early morning Tuesday after a rebound from a rollercoaster week as investors looked past the potential impact from the new omicron coronavirus variant.
- Intel's listing could value the self-driving-car unit at more than $50 billion. It is the latest move by CEO Pat Gelsinger to revive the semiconductor giant's fortunes.
Market Snapshot
Stock futures jumped early morning Tuesday after a rebound from a rollercoaster week as investors looked past the potential impact from the new omicron coronavirus variant.
Futures on the $Dow Jones Industrial Average(.DJI.US)$ rose 335 points. $S&P 500 Index(.SPX.US)$ futures rose 1.23% and $NASDAQ 100 Index(.NDX.US)$ futures were up 1.72%.
Market Temperature
Read more: Market Temperature (12/7)
Top News
Stock futures gain on Omicron optimism
U.S. stock futures, oil prices and Treasury yields rose as investors bet that the impact of Omicron would be milder than previously thought.
U.S. weighs new rules for all-cash real-estate deals
The Treasury Department's FinCEN says it wants to "protect the U.S. real estate market from exploitation by criminals and corrupt officials."
U.S. weighs new rules for all-cash real-estate deals
The Treasury Department's FinCEN says it wants to "protect the U.S. real estate market from exploitation by criminals and corrupt officials."
Balmy forecasts send natural gas prices plunging
Worries of soaring heating bills have diminished as warm weather and higher production boost supply.
Glaxo says its antibody drug works against Omicron
$GlaxoSmithKline(GSK.US)$ and $Vir Biotechnology(VIR.US)$ said their Covid-19 antibody treatment retained effectiveness against the Omicron variant in laboratory studies, even as early data suggests that similar treatments work less well against the strain.
Intel to list shares in Mobileye unit
The listing could value the self-driving-car unit at more than $50 billion. It is the latest move by CEO Pat Gelsinger to revive the semiconductor giant's fortunes. $Intel(INTC.US)$
Instagram unveils tools to keep teens safe
On the eve of a Senate subcommittee hearing, the platform shares plans for taking a "stricter approach" to content it shows users under 18. $Meta Platforms(FB.US)$
Read More
US lawyers set for record bonuses as pandemic fires dealmaking
Bull Session | Elon Musk calls CEO a "made-up title" and describes himself as a "funny" person, what do you think?
Cathie Wood-led Ark's Transparency ETF to begin trading on Wednesday
5 short squeeze candidates to track: PPSI, NUZE, RNXT, GRAB, CRTX
US regulators probe Trump's SPAC deal
Key Events This Week
Source: CNBC, Dow Jones Newswires, Bloomberg