Analysis: The US Stock Market Has Started the "Santa Claus Rally", with Investors Positioning Themselves Early for the Optimistic Outlook for 2026
BlockBeats News, December 23. The U.S. stock market kicked off the traditional "Santa Claus Rally", with major stock indices generally rising. Both gold and silver hit historical highs, with platinum also approaching a record high. The cryptocurrency market surged but then retraced. The S&P 500 index closed higher on Monday, erasing all of its December losses and is set to achieve an eighth consecutive monthly gain, marking the longest winning streak since 2018.
Behind this round of gains are multiple driving forces. Firstly, last Friday's record-breaking "Triple Witching Day" options expiration cleared out a significant amount of long positions in the 6700-6800 range for the S&P 500, providing upward momentum for stock prices. The VIX volatility index fell below 15, hitting a low not seen since August, with short-term implied volatility continuing to compress. Analysts believe that market maker hedging demand has shifted to trend-following, driving the market into a "slow climb" pace.
Secondly, seasonal factors have created a favorable environment, as historical data shows that the end of the year is usually a strong period for the stock market. In addition, investors are positioning themselves early for optimistic expectations in 2026, including accelerated GDP and corporate earnings growth, as well as the potential transformation of AI trading. Federal Reserve Governor Milan stated that there is a recession risk next year if the Fed does not continue cutting rates, further boosting risk appetite with dovish remarks. From a technical perspective, the next psychological barrier for the market is the 7000 level for the S&P 500. (Wall Street News)
You may also like

Crypto Price Prediction Today 18 February – XRP, Bitcoin, Ethereum
Key Takeaways XRP’s potential as a replacement for SWIFT is bolstered by regulatory approvals, potentially driving its price…

XRP Price Prediction: XRP is Outpacing Solana and Targeting Binance Coin Next – Should You Invest Now?
Key Takeaways XRP Ledger has moved into the sixth place by tokenized real-world asset value, surpassing Solana and…

New AI Predicts the Price of XRP, Dogecoin, and Solana By 2026
Key Takeaways ChatGPT anticipates significant price increases for XRP, Dogecoin, and Solana by the end of 2026. XRP…

Arthur Hayes Shares Two Scenarios for Bitcoin Price, Calling for a Major Crypto Rally
Key Takeaways Arthur Hayes predicts a significant crypto rally fueled by a $572 billion liquidity injection from the…

Bitcoin Price Prediction: Abu Dhabi Gov Funds Buy $1 Billion in BTC – What Do They Know?
Key Takeaways Abu Dhabi has revealed a $1 billion stake in Bitcoin through major ETF investments, signaling strong…

Bitcoin’s Divergence From Nasdaq Signals Dollar Liquidity Risk, Says Arthur Hayes
Key Takeaways Arthur Hayes highlights a concerning divergence between Bitcoin and the Nasdaq, pointing to a potential dollar…

Lagarde’s Possible Early Exit Could Alter Digital Euro Plans and Stablecoin Oversight
Key Takeaways Christine Lagarde’s potential departure as ECB president may disrupt the digital euro timeline and stablecoin policies.…

HYLQ Strategy Invests in Hyperliquid Quantum Solutions Pioneer qLABS, Acquires 18,333,334 qONE Tokens
Key Takeaways HYLQ Strategy Corp has made a strategic investment in qLABS, purchasing over 18 million qONE tokens…

WLFI Crypto Surges Toward $0.12 as Whale Purchase Precedes Trump-Linked Forum
Key Takeaways Whale accumulation has spurred a rally in WLFI crypto prices, reaching towards $0.12 ahead of a…

Cathie Wood Reverses Path with $6.9 Million Purchase in Coinbase Stock – Is ARK Strategizing a Rebound?
Key Takeaways ARK Invest acquires 41,453 shares of Coinbase, showing renewed interest post recent divestment. This acquisition by…

Crypto Lobby Establishes Working Group to Advocate for Prediction Market Regulatory Clarity
Key Takeaways The Digital Chamber announced the Prediction Markets Working Group to promote federal oversight of prediction markets.…

Peter Thiel Discreetly Withdraws from Ethereum Treasury Venture ETHZilla – A Cautionary Note for the DAT Model?
Key Takeaways Peter Thiel and Founders Fund have completely exited their position in ETHZilla. Thiel’s withdrawal raises questions…

Coin Center Advocates Protecting Crypto Developer Liability
Key Takeaways Coin Center is actively lobbying the U.S. Senate to safeguard crypto developer liability protections. The ongoing…

$150B in US Tax Refunds Could Catalyze Fresh Crypto Inflows, Historical Trends Indicate
Key Takeaways The IRS anticipates distributing approximately $150 billion in tax refunds to U.S. consumers by the end…

Oracle Error Leads DeFi Lender Moonwell to $1.8 Million in Bad Debt
Key Takeaways A critical oracle pricing glitch caused Moonwell to incur nearly $1.8 million in bad debt. The…

Crypto Price Prediction Today 18 February – XRP, Solana, Dogecoin
Key Takeaways XRP targets a $5 move, driven by its role as an alternative to SWIFT for cross-border…

China’s DeepSeek AI Predicts the Price of XRP, PEPE, and Shiba Inu By the End of 2026
Key Takeaways DeepSeek AI suggests significant potential price increases for XRP, PEPE, and Shiba Inu by 2026. XRP…

XRP Battles Key Support Amid Grayscale Sentiment Surge
Key Takeaways XRP has experienced a 29% price drop recently, creating a tense atmosphere among traders eyeing key…
Crypto Price Prediction Today 18 February – XRP, Bitcoin, Ethereum
Key Takeaways XRP’s potential as a replacement for SWIFT is bolstered by regulatory approvals, potentially driving its price…
XRP Price Prediction: XRP is Outpacing Solana and Targeting Binance Coin Next – Should You Invest Now?
Key Takeaways XRP Ledger has moved into the sixth place by tokenized real-world asset value, surpassing Solana and…
New AI Predicts the Price of XRP, Dogecoin, and Solana By 2026
Key Takeaways ChatGPT anticipates significant price increases for XRP, Dogecoin, and Solana by the end of 2026. XRP…
Arthur Hayes Shares Two Scenarios for Bitcoin Price, Calling for a Major Crypto Rally
Key Takeaways Arthur Hayes predicts a significant crypto rally fueled by a $572 billion liquidity injection from the…
Bitcoin Price Prediction: Abu Dhabi Gov Funds Buy $1 Billion in BTC – What Do They Know?
Key Takeaways Abu Dhabi has revealed a $1 billion stake in Bitcoin through major ETF investments, signaling strong…
Bitcoin’s Divergence From Nasdaq Signals Dollar Liquidity Risk, Says Arthur Hayes
Key Takeaways Arthur Hayes highlights a concerning divergence between Bitcoin and the Nasdaq, pointing to a potential dollar…