What will the stock market do next year? Will the economy go into recession? How many times will the Fed cut rates, if they do so at all? As always, there are so many questions leading into a new year.

In this week's Trading Perspectives, Sam and John share their thoughts about what could be in store for 2024. Is it good news or bad? You will have to listen to find out.

This week, central banks across the world essentially said their collective fight against inflation was over. In the United States, the Fed's own data suggested it would start cutting the overnight rate roughly 3 times in 2024. Couple that with Fed Chairman Powell's dovish comments about inflation, and investors took it as the end of this tightening cycle. However, this begs the questions: 1) is inflation really dead, and; 2) did the Fed do the right thing?

In this week's Trading Perspectives, Sam and John talk about the Federal Reserve's non-action this past week and what it means for the economy and the markets heading into the new year.

This past weekend, the CFP Committee chose its Top 4 teams to participate for the national championship. But were they the best, let alone the most deserving teams? Is there any real difference between the best and the most deserving? Or did the committee simply make a business decision? After all, money talks, and it always has.

In this week's Trading Perspectives, Sam and John discuss the upcoming college football playoffs, and ask the question: are the Top 4 teams participating or are the Top 4 most profitable?

After surprising right-wing victories in elections in Argentina and the Netherlands, pundits have noticed there seems to be a growing trend towards nationalism, especially in Europe. While some outlets blame record immigration levels for this change in sentiment, the causes could also be economic. After all, has globalism produced the economic benefits in Europe or South America that its supporters claimed it would? That is a good question. What if it is a combination of the two? After all, when times are already tight at your house and in your country, how does a flood of immigrants help?

In this week's Trading Perspectives, Sam and John discuss the growth of nationalism in Europe, and to a lesser extent Argentina. Is it cause for concern? Or is it just the national reaction to the mixed results globalism has delivered on the continent?

This past week, the board of directors at OpenAI abruptly terminated co-founder and CEO Sam Altman. This came as a shock to just about everyone but the board itself. However, it reopened the conversation about AI and its potential future impact on, well, everything. That it has the potential to fundamentally change our lives and conduct business is without question. However, who will benefit the most? Who will adapt the quickest? Who won't adapt at all? Are there any generational differences?

In this week's Trading Perspectives, Sam and John discuss the potential impact AI will have on business. Which one do you think is the most scared of AI? Are either?

Depending on to whom you are talking, America's global influence is either plummeting or slowly decreasing. Regardless, it seems no one feels the US is in ascendency. How did this come about and what are the reasons? Further, what does it mean for the US economy, if anything at all? Does it matter if the US is no longer the world's policeman, but is still a major economic force? Are there any generational differences of opinion?

In this week's Trading Perspectives, Sam and John welcome Sidney Fry to the podcast to discuss the changing face of America's global power, and if there is anything to be done about it?

Although analysts keep saying inflation is coming down, prices at the store certainly aren't. This is the difference between relativity and absolutism. Although prices have been elevated for a while, consumers continue to have sticker shock. So, how much longer will it be before the average U.S. consumer accepts higher prices are here to stay and move on? While it be next year, 2025 or never?

In this week's Trading Perspectives, Sam and John discuss higher prices and when the U.S. consumer will quit complaining about them. One says next year and the other thinks it will be 2025. Can you guess which?

As everyone knows, Washington is already running eye-watering deficits. What happens when the U.S. has to significantly increase defense expenditures in order to fulfill our global promises? Couple that with an apparent unwillingness to address runaway entitlements programs, and how is the Treasury going to pay for it all? At least at current interest rates? Simply put, it isn't. At some point in the not so distant future, the Federal Reserve is going to have to stop reducing its balance sheet and start doing some YCC (yield curve control). It isn't a question of if, it is a question of when.

In this week's Trading Perspectives, Sam and John discuss Washington's profligacy and its ability to finance it moving forward. The low-hanging fruit is getting the Fed involved, again, but when? John and Sam bet a beer on it. Who will win?

Recently, consumers have been using drugs approved to treat diabetes to lose weight. Depending on the person, the results can be significant. Further, it seems people using these drugs for weight loss often change their consumption patterns, at least to some degree. While this is obvious great news for a country struggling with obesity, what does it mean to companies and economic sectors which depend on Americans being fat? There is real money at stake.

In this week's Trading Perspectives, Sam and John talk about the recent spike in the use of weight loss drugs and what it means for the US economy.

Last weekend, Hamas unleashed a coordinated military attack against southern Israel, catching the latter off guard. While the world's leaders have condemned the attack, social media message boards and websites aren't anywhere close to being one-sided for the Israelis. Far from it. Since young people are more apt to use social media, is there a generational divide in public support for Israel? If so, what has caused it and what does it mean if the situation escalates?

In this week's Trading Perspectives, Sam and John discuss the conflict in southern Israel and the Gaza Strip. How does Gen Z feel about it relative to Gen X?