Annual Advances, Large Losses, and CEO Commotion

January 09, 2026 | 2 min read

Annual Advances – The S&P 500 closed 2025 with a 16.39% gain, which is the third straight year of double-digit gains. The Nasdaq Composite also advanced 20.36%, while the Dow saw a 12.97% increase in 2025 (source: CNBC).
Large Loss – Citigroup will sell its Russian subsidiary, AO Citibank, to Renaissance Capital in a deal expected to generate a $1.2 billion loss. This sale is in line with Citigroup’s plan to reduce operations and exposure in Russia (source: Reuters).
Star-Studded Performance – Alphabet was the big winner out of the Magnificent Seven with a 65.8% share price return. Nvidia took the second slot with a 40.9% share price return, followed by Tesla at 20.2%. Microsoft posted a 15.5% gain, Meta had a 13.6% share price advance, Apple jumped 8.8%, and Amazon inched up by 5.8% (source: Visual Capitalist).
CEO Commotion – Marc Metrick, CEO of Saks Global, a department store chain, has stepped down, naming Executive Chairman Richard Baker as the next CEO. This comes after Saks Global announced bankruptcy preparations after missing an interest payment (source: Reuters).
Hiking Health – Drugmakers plan to raise prices on at least 350 branded medications, including the COVID, RSV, and shingles vaccines, despite pressure from the Trump Administration. The average price hike of 4% is similar to the price increase at the beginning of 2025 (source: Reuters).
Hot Hedge Funds – Three of Bridgewater’s hedge funds delivered double-digit gains in 2025, making it one of the top performers of the year. Bridgewater Asia had a 37% return, while Bridgewater Pure Alpha and Bridgewater China both had 34% gains in 2025 (source: Reuters).
Flying High – Boeing was awarded a $2.7 billion contract for Apache helicopter support. This comes just one month after Boeing was awarded a $4.7 billion contract for other helicopters (source: Reuters).
Doubling Down – Samsung plans to double its mobile devices with Galaxy AI in 2026, which would give it an edge over rivals in the AI race. The device count is expected to double from 400 million to 800 million mobile products (source: Reuters).
Gigantic Growth – Foxconn reported its Q4 earnings, citing a 26.4% increase in revenue. This growth was driven by its cloud and networking division. Their smart consumer electronics segment posted a small Q4 loss (source: Reuters).
Receiving Record – Travis Kelce from the Kansas City Chiefs becomes the third tight end in NFL history to reach 13,000 receiving yards. Tony Gonzalez and Jason Witten also hold that record (source: Fox News).

This newsletter is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice or a recommendation regarding any specific product or security. Past performance is not indicative of future results. You cannot invest directly in an index. All references to tax or legal matters are provided for informational purposes only. You should consult your legal or tax professional regarding your specific situation. All investing is subject to risk, including possible loss of principal.

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