In this gentle start to the holiday-shortened week, The Gentle Ledger settles into a market lifted by seasonal optimism and steady risk appetite. U.S. indexes moved higher across the board, with small-caps leading and technology providing quiet support as investors leaned into the familiar rhythm of a Santa Claus rally. We explore notable corporate moves from Nvidia and Micron’s continued strength to sharper reactions in media, energy, and mobility stocks shaped by regulation, M&A, and future-facing bets. Across Asia and Europe, markets echoed Wall Street’s calm uplift, buoyed by exporters, financials, and cyclical names. Commodities remained luminous, with gold holding record levels and oil edging higher, while Treasury yields nudged upward without unsettling sentiment. In crypto, Bitcoin hovered near $89,000, reflecting a market comfortable with stillness rather than speculation — a fitting tone as the year gently winds toward its close.