Welcome to How Are Markets.
Thursday. November CPI is out, and it’s much better than expected…or is it?
Micron $MU killed earnings on strong memory demand outpacing supply, and OpenAI is raising even more money to fund its ambitions.
Markets were up today!
See the full breakdown below!
📊 Market Close: 12/18/25
Nasdaq: (+1.40%) to $23,006
S&P 500: (+0.80%) to $6,774
Dow Jones: (+0.10%) to $47,951
Bitcoin: (-1.00%) to ~$85,200
Gold: (-1.00%) to ~$4,334
10yr Treasury Yields fall to 4.12%
📰 Major Headlines
CPI Comes In Cooler… With a Catch ⚠️
Headline CPI: +2.7% YoY (below expectations of 3.1%)
Core CPI: +2.6% YoY (lowest since early 2021)
Why markets stayed cautious:
No CPI data was collected for October
November CPI only reflects part of the month due to the government shutdown
Economists called the report “noisy” and incomplete
Market impact:
Stocks did not rip higher
January rate cut odds only increased ~2%
Investors want confirmation from cleaner future prints (December CPI)
Trump Media to Merge With Nuclear Fission Company ⚛️
Trump Media announced plans to merge with a nuclear fission-focused energy company
The move highlights renewed focus on energy and power generation
Nuclear is increasingly viewed as critical for AI data centers and long-term infrastructure needs
📈 Earnings & Company News
Micron (MU) +10.2%
Said AI-driven memory demand is outpacing supply
Helped lift the broader semiconductor sector
Nvidia (NVDA) +1.9%
Broadcom (AVGO) +1.2%
Semis bounced alongside Micron
Sector remains sensitive to AI spending expectations
Lululemon (LULU) +3.5%
Shares rallied after reports that Elliott Investment Management built a stake
Activist pressure reportedly focused on leadership changes
Coinbase (COIN) -2%
Slid after announcing plans to enter prediction markets via Kalshi
Thanks for reading!
— Gavin, How Are Markets
Daily Stock Market Update Videos ⏱ → @HowAreMarkets
All How Are Markets Newsletters → How Are Markets Home
Contact Us: [email protected]
⚠️ Disclaimer: I’m not a financial advisor — this newsletter is for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing here should be taken as financial advice or a recommendation to buy or sell any securities. Do your own research before making investment decisions.