Wall Street is getting spooky. Stocks are swinging despite strong earnings. Big Tech is betting big on AI. The Fed could be gearing up for another rate hike. And Hollywood is having a monster year at the box office.
This week on The J.D. Durkin Show, we’re breaking down the stock market’s year-end outlook, Big Tech earnings, AI investing, the Fed’s next move, portfolio diversification, opportunities in international markets and Hollywood’s record-breaking box office — including the horror movie boom just in time for Halloween.
No tricks, just trades. 🎃
Guests:
• Rebecca Walser (Financial Advisor & Market Strategist)
– Why strong earnings aren’t translating into stock gains, the battle between Microsoft and Alphabet in AI, concerns about market breadth, opportunities in health care, the threat of stablecoins to traditional banks, the outlook for a Santa Claus rally, the midterm elections and why additional Fed rate hikes could hurt the economy.
• Cliff Cornell (Investment Advisor)
– Why diversification matters when major indexes are masking weakness beneath the surface, opportunities beyond Big Tech, the strength of international stocks, how direct indexing can help investors manage taxes and strategies for navigating the final months of 2026.
• Paul Dergarabedian (Box Office Analyst)
– Hollywood’s record-breaking $4.8 billion summer, the resurgence of movie theaters, why horror films have generated more than $1.3 billion this year, the biggest box office surprises and disappointments of 2026, the upcoming showdown between Avengers: Doomsday and Dune: Part Three, and whether Hollywood can reach $10 billion in annual domestic ticket sales.
**PLUS:** Halloween-themed conversations, rapid-fire questions on stocks, AI, investing, the Fed, Hollywood’s biggest hits and flops, and what’s ahead for markets and movies as 2026 winds down.
The views expressed are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect my own or those of The J.D. Durkin Show.
For informational and entertainment purposes only—not financial, investment or legal advice. If it were, I’d be charging hedge fund fees.
DYOR and consult a licensed professional before making investment decisions.