Michael Reinking, NYSE Senior Market Strategist, kicks off 2026 with a look back and ahead. After a volatile Q1, the S&P 500 closed 2025 up 16.4%, marking a third straight year of double-digit gains driven by AI. Fed easing and rotation into small and midcaps shaped Q4, raising questions about whether broadening continues. Geopolitical headlines, including U.S. action in Venezuela, barely rattled markets as oil held steady. With indices near record highs and key data and earnings season ahead, investors enter the new year with cautious optimism.

Armando Pantoja, financial futurist and self-made millionaire, joins Bilal Little to discuss the technologies shaping the future of wealth. He shares how early work in computer science, crypto, and AI led to building and selling an AI-powered platform in 2017. Pantoja breaks down major long-term themes including AI, nuclear energy, quantum computing, and crypto, and why energy sits at the center of the next market cycle. He explains how ETFs can help investors access these emerging trends with diversification and risk management

Blackstone is marking 40 years of growth while positioning itself for the next era of global investing. President and COO Jon Gray goes Inside the ICE House to reflect on the firm’s evolution, his 33-year journey, and the culture that has scaled alongside the business. He explains how Blackstone identifies long-term investment tailwinds, from digital infrastructure to global real estate, while cutting through market noise with data and discipline. Gray also outlines how AI, energy infrastructure, and broader access to alternative investments are shaping Blackstone’s strategy for the years ahead.

In December, Inside the ICE House aired eight new episodes, both traditional and our Markets in Focus series in partnership with Opening Bell Daily.

Episode 500: NYSE Texas President Bryan Daniel on Igniting Opportunity in the Lone Star State

Episode 501: McGraw Hill's Dave Cortese on Driving Digital Transformation in Education

Markets in Focus: Rate Cut Expectations, Bitcoin's Dip, Year-End Optimism

Episode 502: Author & Entrepreneur Brad Feld on Mentorship, Leadership and Building Better Ecosystems

Episode 503: Emera CEO Scott Balfour on Growth, Strategy, and the Utilities Trilemma

Episode 504: Delta CEO Ed Bastian on 100 Years, Expanding Horizons, and Personalizing Every Journey

Episode 505: Minerals Technologies CEO Doug Dietrich on Specialty Minerals and Their Everyday Impact

Episode 506: Texas House's Will Herrmann and Alex Kuehler on Showcasing the Texas Business Advantage

Tim Reilly, Head of Exchange Traded Solutions at the NYSE, joins Bilal Little to break down the 2025 ETF Wrap-Up and reflect on a year of growth and innovation in the ETF space. He highlights key trends that shaped the market, from record launches to shifting investor demand, and shares how the NYSE positioned itself amid these changes. The conversation explores lessons learned from 2025 and the strategies driving ETF adoption across asset classes. Tim also looks ahead to 2026, offering insights into what’s next for ETFs and the opportunities on the horizon.

Texas House is elevating the state’s global presence by blending business, culture, and connection into a modern cultural embassy. Co-founders Will Herrmann and Alex Kuehler go Inside the ICE House to discuss how Texas House showcases the state’s entrepreneurial energy, authentic culture, and role as a launchpad for global conversations and business growth.

Eric Criscuolo, NYSE Market Strategist, recaps a week shaped by year-end dynamics and shifting trends. The Fed’s rate cut and $40B T-Bill program eased liquidity concerns but didn’t spark broad gains. Consumer Discretionary led while Energy slid, and small caps lagged after last week’s surge. With holiday seasonality, triple witching, and key data ahead, markets enter the final stretch of 2025.

Minerals Technologies is advancing the specialty minerals industry through global scale and innovation. CEO Doug Dietrich goes Inside the ICE House to discuss how MTI’s unique assets, people-driven culture, and technology leadership support everyday products and sustainable solutions worldwide.

Delta Air Lines is marking 100 years of flight while charting a bold course for the future of travel. CEO Ed Bastian goes Inside the ICE House to share how the airline is expanding its global reach and redefining the passenger experience. He discusses innovations that personalize every step of the journey, strategies to enhance connectivity, and Delta’s vision for the next century of aviation.

Michael Reinking, Senior Market Strategist at the NYSE, recaps a week defined by AI volatility and a Fed surprise. The AI trade continued to evolve as investors shifted focus from spending to returns, pressuring some tech names. The Fed cut rates and announced balance sheet expansion, easing liquidity concerns and fueling a sharp rotation. Small and mid-caps hit new highs while mega-cap tech lagged, leaving the S&P 500 little changed. Attention now turns to upcoming economic data and the January Fed meeting.