Markets opened Thursday with stock index futures above fair value ahead of key 8:30 a.m. economic data. The Nasdaq led pre-market gains, driven largely by Micron trading sharply higher, while other indices lagged. Metals pulled back slightly after strong recent gains, with continued investor interest in gold, silver, and platinum suggesting underlying risk concerns.
Volatility indicators showed no trend changes, while most major ETFs and active stocks remained in established trends. Weakness persisted in semiconductors and select tech names, highlighting classic lower-high, lower-low patterns in stocks like Uber. Tesla saw a bearish reversal but stayed on a buy signal. Canadian markets were supported by metals, with selective trend changes among banks and energy stocks.
Stephen Whiteside
Thursday, December 18, 2025
