Market Brief 17 January, 2025

Good evening, investors and traders! The markets are experiencing a surge of optimism today, fueled by positive economic data and anticipation for President-elect Trump's inauguration. The S&P 500 Index (GSPC) closed up 1.01% at 5,997.79, while the Nasdaq 100 Index (NDX) closed up 1.48% at 19,625.19. The U.S. economy is showing signs of strength, with retail sales increasing in December and housing starts jumping to their highest level since February 2024. The Supreme Court upheld a law that could ban TikTok in the U.S., sending social media stocks higher. The IMF raised its 2025 global GDP growth forecast to 3.3% on a stronger U.S. outlook.