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Winter's Dawn: Celebrating the Solstice

The Winter Solstice, which occurred on December 21st, marks the shortest day and longest night of the year, signaling the official start of winter. Mary Walrath-Holdridge and Julia Gomez from USA TODAY explore the significance of this astronomical event and how it is celebrated across different cultures. The solstice, occurring when the North Pole is tilted furthest away from the sun, brings the least amount of daylight and the longest night. This year, the solstice fell on December 21st at 4:21 a.m. EST, marking the astronomical beginning of winter in the Northern Hemisphere. Historically, the Winter Solstice has been a time of celebration and reflection. Ancient civilizations, such as the Romans with their Saturnalia festival and the Norsemen with their bonfires, honored the return of the sun and the promise of longer days ahead. Today, people continue to observe the solstice with various traditions, including gatherings, feasts, and rituals that pay homage to the natural cycles of l...

Stock Futures Point to Continued Record-Setting Run on Wall Street

                                        

In a bullish start to the day, US stock futures are indicating a higher open as Wall Street aims to extend its record-setting run. Here are the key points:

  1. Futures on the S&P 500 (symbol: ^GSPC) have risen nearly 0.4%.
  2. Dow Jones Industrial Average futures (symbol: ^DJI) are up by about 0.2%.
  3. Nasdaq Composite futures (symbol: ^IXIC) lead the way, rising approximately 0.5%.

Despite a brief pause in the rally on Monday, where all three major indexes dipped slightly, the overall mood remains bullish. Notably, Oppenheimer Asset Management strategist John Stoltzfus has raised his 2024 S&P 500 price target to a Street-high 5,500.

Economic data is in focus today, with readings on durable goods orders and US consumer confidence due. Additionally, the Case-Shiller home price index will be released. However, the main event awaits us on Friday when the government will publish the Personal Consumption Expenditures Price Index (core PCE growth)—the Federal Reserve’s preferred gauge of inflation pace.

In company news, Trump Media & Technology Group Corp. (symbol: DJT) is making its Wall Street debut after merging with Digital World Acquisition Corp. Shares of Trump Media & Technology Group Corp. have surged as much as 20% in premarket trading.

Stay tuned for more market updates as the week unfolds.

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