Asia markets poised to open mixed ahead of key business activity readings from China and India

The outlook for equity markets this year looks uncertain, with one market strategist describing the new year as “stepping into a house of cards.”

“The stock market may fluctuate in 2025, but significant opportunities will arise for those focused on individual stock picks,” Michele Schneider, chief market strategist at Marketgauge.com, said.

From beauty labels to electric vehicle companies, here are four stocks Schneider expects to beat the market this year.

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— Amala Balakrishner

The stock market enjoyed a broad rally on Friday, led by the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite. Still, the three major averages finished with losses for the week.

— Jesse Pound

The market may have more room to run in 2025, according to UBS’ David Lefkowitz.

“We expect the bull market to continue with the S&P 500 reaching 6,600 by the end of the year, primarily driven by healthy profit growth of 9%,” the firm’s chief investment officer of U.S. equities wrote in a recent note. His price target implies about 12.5% upside from Thursday’s close.

“That said, there are always risks that investors will have to navigate,” Lefkowitz continued.

On that front, Lefkowitz said changes in trade policy under President-elect Trump, fiscal battles in Congress, inflation and the outlook for artificial intelligence could all possibly spur volatility in the coming year.

“But as long as corporate America puts up the numbers, stocks should respond favorably,” he said.

The forecast comes after a record-breaking year for the S&P 500. In 2024, the broad market index gained more than 23%, scoring multiple new intraday and closing highs during the period.

— Sean Conlon

Microsoft plans to spend $80 billion to build artificial intelligence-enabled data centers in fiscal 2025, the technology titan said Friday.

The company said more than half of that spending in the fiscal year, which ends in June, will be in the U.S.

Shares last traded up more than 1% in Friday’s session. The stock is on track to snap a five-day losing streak.

— Alex Harring, Jordan Novet