The S&P 500 briefly fell below its pre-election level on Monday amid concerns about inflation and interest rates, closing slightly above the mark. Investors are worried that the Federal Reserve might reduce rate cuts due to persistent inflation, exacerbated by strong jobs data. "This is a case of high expectations crashing into reality," says Michael O'Rourke, chief market strategist at JonesTrading. "The honeymoon may be over."

Options traders are anticipating significant volatility during the upcoming earnings season, with expectations that S&P 500 stocks will experience an average move of 4.7% in either direction following their earnings reports. This would mark the largest earnings-day movements on record, as reported by Bank of America strategists.

The US IPO market, expected to return to pre-pandemic levels in 2025, faces challenges from rising Treasury yields. Yields on 30-year Treasurys recently surpassed 5%, potentially affecting valuations of high-growth companies and leading some to delay IPOs. "Rates are one of the key potential headwinds" for the IPO market, said Robert Stowe, head of Americas equity capital markets at Barclays Plc. "If there's an impact on the equity market then there will be an impact on the IPO market."

President-elect Donald Trump's economic team is reportedly considering a plan to gradually increase tariffs by 2% to 5% monthly using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. The approach aims to boost negotiating leverage and mitigate inflation spikes. The proposal, still in early stages, has not been presented to Trump, sources say.

Robinhood Securities and Robinhood Financial have agreed to pay $45 million in penalties to settle Securities and Exchange Commission allegations, including failure to report suspicious activity and preserve electronic communications. Robinhood did not admit or deny the allegations, noting that most issues have been addressed.

Analysts are anticipating further gains for the dollar, driven by a resilient US economy and reduced expectations for Federal Reserve rate cuts as President-elect Donald Trump plans tariffs. Goldman Sachs, TD Securities and Deutsche Bank predict the dollar will test 2022 highs, with the Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index rising for five consecutive sessions.

Traffic congestion in New York City cost more than $1,800 per driver in lost productivity in 2024, according to a report from INRIX. Annual traffic delays rose 1% overall and by 5% on Fridays. The introduction of congestion pricing in Manhattan aims to reduce vehicle traffic by 17%, lower air pollution and fund mass transit improvements.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has proposed measures to curb home buying activity by hedge funds and private-equity firms, including by implementing a 75-day waiting period before institutional investors can bid on properties after they are put on the market. The plan would also slash certain tax benefits. James Whelan, president of the Real Estate Board of New York, noted that these types of policies might "stifle investment in housing."

When a team member's disruptive behavior, negative attitude or lack of accountability hampers team morale and productivity, identify their specific problem and have a clear goal in mind to help them improve performance and measure success before having a conversation, says human resources consultant Wendy Sellers. "Even if a conversation addresses a behavioral issue, continuous support and check-ins are vital for sustainable improvement, and to let that difficult person know that you -- as their manager -- are not going to let their behavior slide," Sellers says.

House Speaker Mike Johnson has confirmed discussions on linking California wildfire relief to raising the debt ceiling, sparking bipartisan debate. While some see the approach as a practical solution, Democrats have criticized the move as leveraging disaster victims for unrelated policy goals.