Listen to today’s podcast: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-nqwUyvLDEvs7bV985k-gQ
Stock Market Daily Podcast — 12/23/2025
Today’s podcast episode was created from the following stories:
Bitcoin steadies near $89,000 as gold hits record and Asia stocks rise
By Shaurya Malwa — December 22, 2025
Bitcoin hovered around $88,800 as gold notched fresh records above $4,380/oz and Asian equities advanced, signaling a cautiously risk-on backdrop into year-end. Data suggest long‑term BTC holders are nearing the end of a selling phase while institutional buyers, including ETFs and corporate treasuries, are absorbing supply faster than miners produce it. Even so, thin holiday liquidity and lingering leverage are keeping rallies in check.
Stock market’s Santa tradition offers hope to battered bitcoin bulls
By James Van Straten — December 22, 2025
A well-worn seasonal pattern could offer relief for crypto: the S&P 500 has historically risen during the final five trading days of December and the first two of January. With bitcoin’s fourth quarter among its toughest since 2022 and its correlation to equities tightened by ETF adoption, a Santa rally in stocks could spill over into digital assets. Gold, meanwhile, has been the standout, reinforcing the macro cross-currents shaping risk sentiment.
Crypto markets today: Gold tokens shine as bitcoin rises to $89,000
By Omkar Godbole, Francisco Rodrigues — December 22, 2025
Record highs in gold boosted on-chain gold proxies, with XAUT hitting an all-time high near $4,425 and lifting the market cap of gold-backed tokens to roughly $4.38 billion. Bitcoin pushed toward $89,800 alongside stronger Asian tech shares, but sustained recovery may hinge on renewed institutional demand after nearly $1 billion in net outflows from digital asset funds last week. Derivatives positioning and subdued implied volatility point to cautious appetite as the year winds down.
Here are the 10 hedge funds to watch in 2026
By Bradley Saacks — December 22, 2025
Hedge funds ended 2025 with respectable but generally index-lagging returns, and 2026 attention is shifting to managers expanding products and talent. Names to watch range from Coatue’s broader access and Point72’s AI and private-credit pushes to Jain Global’s scale-up, Millennium’s evolution, and AI-driven Numerai’s growth. For allocators, the list maps where capital, data science, and multi-strategy platforms are likely to drive opportunities next year.
Investors hope the Santa rally is hitching up its reindeer
By Sean Craig — December 22, 2025
Seasonality is back in focus as the classic Santa Claus rally—typically the last five sessions of December and first two of January—has delivered average S&P 500 gains around 1.3% since 1950. After a brief wobble, the index rebounded late last week and banks see supportive positioning, with easing inflation adding to rate-cut hopes. Tech participation improved as well, with the Magnificent Seven ETF ticking higher into the holiday stretch.
