On January 17, 2026, Bank of America's Savita Subramanian said at a 2026 outlook meeting that consumer staples and lower price-point retailers could strongly outperform the wider stock market if the Federal Reserve keeps cutting interest rates. She added that a shift toward more populist policies ahead of next year's midterm elections may further support a rebound in broader consumer spending.

NextGen Healthcare has agreed to a court-approved settlement that could pay up to $7,500 to patients impacted by a cyberattack in March and April 2023. The incident allegedly allowed a third-party attacker to access sensitive personal data, including Social Security numbers, leading victims to claim ongoing costs for credit monitoring and other protective measures. The settlement fund is designated to reimburse verifiable, unreimbursed expenses that victims consider directly linked to the breach.

On December 20, 2025, JPMorgan Chase's Dubravko Lakos said in a CNBC interview that the S&P 500 could climb to 8,000 in 2026 if the Federal Reserve eases more than one additional time. If the Fed delivers only one further cut, the bank's target is 7,000–7,500. Lakos added that rate reductions may support weaker parts of a "k-shaped" economy.