17. Weekly Market Recap: Key Movements & Insights

📈 December Kicks Off in the Green! 🌟 Is the Rally Here to Stay?

S&P 500 Advances Amid Strong Economic Data and Tech Rally

In a week marked by continued market optimism, the S&P 500 notched its third consecutive weekly gain, rising 0.7% as investors digested strong economic data and anticipated further Federal Reserve rate cuts. The index's performance builds on November's impressive 5.7% jump, bringing its year-to-date gain to a remarkable 28.3%. The rally underscores the market's resilience as it navigates a complex economic landscape.

The week's gains were driven by strength in the information technology, communication services, and energy sectors, with tech stocks leading the charge. AI-related companies were pivotal in the rally, buoyed by positive sentiment around the sector's growth potential. Retail sales data and a better-than-expected jobs report fueled bullish sentiment, while expectations of another Fed rate cut in December added to the optimism.

Cryptocurrencies also had a standout week, with Bitcoin breaking the $100,000 milestone on Wed…