Good Morning, Traders!…👋

U.S. stocks were set to dip on Tuesday as all eyes turn to the Federal Reserve’s final meeting of 2024. The two-day meeting kicks off today, with the central bank widely expected to deliver a quarter-point rate cut when it concludes on Wednesday.

Investors will closely analyze Chair Jerome Powell’s remarks for clues on the future direction of borrowing costs heading into 2025.

Meanwhile, oil prices slipped amid renewed demand concerns following weak Chinese economic data released Monday. Brent crude dipped 0.3% to $73.66 a barrel, while West Texas Intermediate crude fell 0.5% to $70.34.

In bond markets, yields ticked higher. The 10-year U.S. Treasury yield rose to 4.442%, while the 2-year yield edged up to 4.276%.n to the Nasdaq 100 index, reflecting growing attention to its role as a bitcoin proxy.

Happening Today

✓ 08:30 AM ET – Core Retail Sales (MoM) (Nov)

✓ 09:15 AM ET – Industrial Production (MoM) (YoY) (Nov)

✓ 10:00 AM ET – Business Inventories (MoM) (Oct)

✓ 01:00 PM ET – 20-Year Bond Auction

PREMARKET SNAPSHOT 📈

Market futures are down, with the S&P 500, Dow, and NASDAQ all showing declines.

SECTOR SNAPSHOT✨

Yesterday's market showed strong gains in Consumer Discretionary (+1.74%), Information Technology (+1.01%), and Communication Services (+1.29%), leading the sectors. However, Energy (-2.19%) and Health Care (-1.25%) saw notable declines, while Materials (-0.98%) and Consumer Staples (-0.36%) also slipped. Financials (-0.04%) remained nearly flat, with Industrials (+0.08%) showing slight growth. Real Estate (-0.60%) and Utilities (-0.83%) continued to struggle.

PreMarket Unusual Volume Stocks

📈 Syntec Optics Holdings Inc (OPTX) soared 174.72%, closing at $4.89. Volume reached 28.44M shares, far surpassing its average of 489.82K, signaling immense market momentum.

📈 KWESST Micro Systems Inc (KWE) jumped 55.22%, closing at $1.13. The trading volume surged to 22.88M shares, compared to an average of 484.50K, reflecting high investor interest.

📈 Portage Biotech Inc (PRTG) climbed 128.92%, ending the day at $7.44. Volume hit 2.99M shares, far exceeding its 911.60K average, showcasing bullish sentiment.

📈 Maison Solutions Inc (MSS) gained 42.16%, closing at $1.45. Trading volume stood at 6.04M shares, surpassing the average of 1.99M, indicating strong market activity.

📈 Ondas Holdings Inc (ONDS) rose 12.65%, finishing at $1.87. The volume reached 2.77M shares, above the average of 1.70M, showing continued investor focus.

Premarket Picks

Syntec Optics Holdings, Inc. (OPTX) is seeing a pre-market surge of 171.34%, with its price jumping to $4.83. This increase follows the announcement of Michael J. Ransford's appointment as the new Site Manager for the company.

Tonix Pharmaceuticals Holding Corp. (TNXP) has surged 57.84%, reaching a pre-market price of $0.83. The gain comes after the company reported strong third-quarter 2024 financial results and notable operational highlights.

SEALSQ Corp. (LAES) experienced an 18.77% increase in pre-market trading, with the price reaching $2.91. This rise is attributed to the company’s announcement of a $25.0 million registered direct offering, which was priced above market under NASDAQ rules.

Maison Solutions Inc. (MSS) saw a pre-market price increase of 40.38%, reaching $1.46. This surge follows the release of their second-quarter and six-month 2025 financial results, showing a remarkable 125.3% increase in net revenues to $31.0 million compared to $13.8 million in the same period last year.

Below is a complete list of hot stocks in pre-market today:

Top Upgrades:

1. Bioventus Inc. (BVS)

Analyst Firm: JPMorgan
Upgrade: Underweight to Neutral
Price Target: $13
Yesterday's Close: $11.15

JPMorgan raised its rating on Bioventus to Neutral from Underweight, increasing the price target to $13 from $12.

Analysts have set varying stock price targets for Bioventus Inc., with a high of $17.00, a median of $15.00, and a low of $13.00. The average target price is $15.00. Bioventus is committed to delivering clinically proven, cost-effective products designed to help individuals heal quickly and safely. Their mission focuses on making a meaningful difference in the lives of patients, helping them resume active and enjoyable lifestyles.

2. Ecolab Inc. (ECL)

Analyst Firm: BMO Capital
Upgrade: Market Perform to Outperform
Price Target: $290
Yesterday's Close: $248.40

BMO Capital upgraded Ecolab to Outperform from Market Perform, raising the price target to $290 from $279.

For Ecolab Inc., stock price targets range from a high of $310.00 to a low of $235.00, with a median target of $285.00 and an average of $281.37. Ecolab is a global leader in sustainability, providing essential water, hygiene, and infection prevention solutions. Trusted by millions of customers, the company plays a key role in safeguarding both people and the vital resources necessary for life.

3. Albertsons Companies, Inc. (ACI)

Analyst Firm: Telsey Advisory
Upgrade: Market Perform to Outperform
Price Target: $26
Yesterday's Close: $19.85

Telsey Advisory upgraded Albertsons (ACI) to Outperform from Market Perform, raising the price target to $26 from $21.

The stock price target for Albertsons Companies is projected with a high of $27.00, a median of $22.00, and a low of $19.00. The average target price stands at $22.62. As one of the leading U.S. food and drug retailers, Albertsons operates 2,267 stores, 1,726 pharmacies, and numerous distribution centers, fueling their commitment to providing accessible, quality products to millions of customers nationwide.

Happy investing,

Maeve Grace
Editor In Chief
Premium Stock Alerts

Important: This newsletter does not provide investment advice. The stocks mentioned should not be taken as recommendations. Your investments are solely your decisions.

Disclosure: I hold no positions in any companies mentioned, either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.