On November 12, 2025, President Donald Trump signed a funding bill at the White House that ended the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. The bill was passed by the House of Representatives earlier that evening and is set to fund the government through January.
Here are some essential points for investors as they begin their trading day:
- The new agreement does not extend Obamacare tax credits, something Democrats had hoped for, but it guarantees that the Senate will vote on a healthcare bill favored by Democrats next month.
- It ensures funding for food stamps and provides backpay for government employees affected by the shutdown.
- As Trump signed the bill, he acknowledged that “people have been terribly hurt” and emphasized that such a shutdown should never occur again, placing blame on the Democrats.
- White House press secretary Caroline Levitt warned that key inflation and labor statistics for October might not be published due to the shutdown, leaving Fed policymakers potentially uninformed during a crucial period.
- The Transportation Department also reversed flight reductions imposed earlier, as disruptions to air travel began to resolve.
- Yesterday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed above 48,000 for the first time, buoyed by optimism regarding the shutdown’s resolution.
2. Disney’s Financial Update
Disney announced that it missed Wall Street’s expectations for its fiscal fourth-quarter revenue, resulting in a more than 4% drop in its stock during premarket trading. Despite the growth of its Disney+ streaming service, the company’s traditional TV business and theatrical releases have been struggling. On a brighter note, Disney’s quarterly profit did exceed analysts’ predictions, and CFO Hugh Johnston expressed optimism about closing the year with strong momentum.
3. Federal Reserve News
The Supreme Court is set to hear arguments on January 21 regarding Trump’s attempt to fire Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook. A lower court ruling allowed Cook to retain her position while the case proceeds. Additionally, Rafael Bostic, Atlanta Fed President, announced his resignation, noting the significance of his role as the first African-American and openly gay president of a regional Fed.
4. Alternative Funding Programs
With escalating drug costs in the U.S., alternative funding programs are emerging, potentially providing patients with more affordable access to specialty drugs—sometimes sourced from overseas. However, federal authorities are expressing concerns about the legality and health risks associated with these programs, as they’ve detected prescriptions coming from unverified suppliers and possibly illegal online pharmacies.
5. Anthropic’s Investment Plans
Anthropic revealed intentions to invest $50 billion in AI-related infrastructure, aiming to solidify its status as a significant player in the sector. The initiative will start with data centers in Texas and New York and is anticipated to create around 800 permanent jobs and over 2,000 construction jobs. However, growing political opposition to the AI industry’s infrastructure and public frustration over rising electricity costs may pose challenges.
6. Epstein Documents Released
The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee has released more than 20,000 documents from Jeffrey Epstein’s estate, including emails that mention Trump. The president has consistently denied any knowledge of Epstein’s criminal activities, and he has not faced charges related to the matter. House Speaker Mike Johnson announced that a vote would occur next week regarding further Epstein-related disclosures.
I know how dirty Donald is.
—Jeffrey Epstein in a 2018 email thread
