Good morning.

It appears that in the area around Wall Street, Santa is still sitting in his sleigh … as the famed Santa Claus Rally (with two days left to go) has yet to take hold … with stocks possibly facing their fourth consecutive losing session.  Still, presents were given out earlier this year … as the market will close out 2025 with better than average returns … leaving many investors to still believe.

“Keep your friends close but your enemies closer” … was a phrase mentioned by Michael Corleone in “The Godfather Part II” … but it might not be good advice right now to keep anyone close … friend or foe … as the flu is spreading fast.  Yet this isn’t the only problem.  Measles … a disease once considered “eliminated” … could be making a comeback as the number of kids taking protective vaccines has been reduced.  Remember the “Rubella Umbrella?”  Uncertainly resulting from mixed messages surrounding the vaccine has resulted in many putting the umbrella away for now … even as clouds are fast appearing on the horizon.

Well, it is New Year’s Eve … and I’ve been asked about my plans for the evening.  The answer?  Nothing (other than binge watching some mindless show until I fall asleep).  I don’t know if having so many choices available now are a good thing or not.

When I was a kid … many years ago of course … certain television shows during holidays were pretty well traditional.  New Years Eve had “The Horn Blows at Midnight” or the start of the “Twilight Show Marathon.”  Christmas had “Its a Wonderful Life,” the first day of the baseball season played, “It Happens Every Spring” and Thanksgiving had “March of the Wooden Soldiers.”

Now, it is dozens of police shows … all with almost the same plot … with villains who can shoot a thousand rounds of gunfire and never seem to hit their target.

Sorry … I am off on another tangent as I reminisce about the simplicity of a time long gone.  This happens every year around this time.

I just wanted to take this moment to wish each of you a very wonderful new year and thank you for putting up with my ramblings for so very long …as I enter my 16th year of grammatical torture.

Let’s hope you each stay healthy and, hopefully, wealthy … as we enter the new year

Have a great day,

Joseph G. Witthohn, CFA

Have any questions? Please contact info@teamemerald.com

A Look At The News | December 31, 2025 As of 11:45 AM today … Jobless claims appear to have leveled out … but hiring is not on the rise … so right now the glass appears to be half full (or is it half empty?) (BreakingtheNews) https://breakingthenews.net/Article/US-initial-jobless-claims-down-by-16000-to-199000/65413719   While there is every indication that weight loss drugs work wonders, quite a few older Americans stop the use … as cost and side-effects are viewed not to be worth it (FoxNews) https://www.foxnews.com/health/older-americans-quitting-glp-1-weight-loss-drugs-4-key-reasons   The Post Office is changing once again and postmarks will not be on the date mailed but, instead, on date processed.  How will this affect taxes and … gulp … ballots?  Who knows? (BinNews) https://www.binnews.com/content/2025-12-30-usps-changes-postmark-rules-and-your-mail-could-arrive-late-in-2026/   The flu season promises to be a bad one and while the vaccine is suggested, it offers only partial protection … so be careful (NPR) https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2025/12/30/nx-s1-5661508/flu-cdc-health   … meanwhile, one disease considered “eliminated” … measles … is on the rise.  Hopefully, it will be contained but … if not … it will just add to health worries in the new year (NBCNews) https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/measles-south-carolina-us-elimination-status-rcna251515   This is interesting as instead of using one gmail email for everything … you can easily change just one part of it so topic-related emails only hit that new address (TalkAndroid) https://www.talkandroid.com/519963-gmail-address-change-update/ The statements above are supplied for educational purposes only. The statements depict the viewpoints and opinion of the author and are not necessarily the views of Emerald Asset Management or its affiliates. The information described herein is taken from sources which are believed to be reliable, but the accuracy and completeness of such information is not guaranteed by us. Emerald Asset Management PA, LLC | 717-556-8900 | 3175 Oregon Pike, Leola, PA 17540 Want to change how you receive these emails? You can unsubscribe from this list. ———————————————————————————- The statements above are supplied for educational purposes only. The statements depict the viewpoints and opinion of the author and are not necessarily the views of Emerald Asset Management or its affiliates. The information described herein is taken from sources which are believed to be reliable, but the accuracy and completeness of such information is not guaranteed by us.