Listen on the go! A daily podcast of Wall Street Breakfast will be available by 8:00 a.m. on Seeking Alpha, iTunes, Spotify.Getty ImagesUp for a challenge? Test your knowledge on the biggest events in the investing world over the past week. Take the latest Seeking Alpha News Quiz and see how you stack up against the competition.Good morning! Here is the latest in trending:Streaming shakeup: Netflix (NFLX) and Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) struck a $82.7B deal as Paramount Skydance (PSKY) questioned the fairness of the sales process.Military reporting: The New York Times (NYT) is taking the Pentagon to court over its new press policy, alleging violations of First and Fifth Amendment rights.Types of fuel: Vladimir Putin asks why India can't buy Russian oil if the U.S. is still buying enriched Russian uranium for its power plants.The benchmark S&P 500 (SP500) is nearing record territory again following a slow but steady advance over the past couple of weeks. Positive developments include the likelihood of another central bank rate cut in December and a newly led Federal Reserve. Following several rounds of interviews, National Economic Director Kevin Hassett is likely to replace Jerome Powell next year, tilting the bank toward aggressive interest rate cuts.Helping the situation: The economic data coming to light following the government shutdown blackout hasn't been particularly strong. Rising unemployment has been seen amid worrying stats from the private sector, while manufacturing contracted for the ninth month and consumer confidence has dipped on concerns over inflation, jobs, and the economy. Investors will also get fresh inflation numbers today amid the release of the personal consumption expenditures price index, with the core rate expected to hold steady, even if it's still elevated.This has bolstered the case for more rate cuts, leading to a broad advance and a rally with legs. The move higher has included most stocks in the S&P 500, as well as small-cap stocks, like the fresh record close by the Russell 2000 Index (RTY). Interestingly, tech has largely sat out of the recent rebound amid a sector rotation and concerns over market concentration and valuations.Up next: "Despite all the recent noise about the economy in the U.S., and geopolitical rumblings heard around the world, I am optimistic regarding the stock market," SA Investing Group Leader Damon Judd writes in his Market Outlook For 2026. "After all, we are only about 3 years into the latest bull market and tailwinds from the Fourth Industrial Revolution, or 4IR (also called Industry 4.0) are just beginning to propel the S&P 500 to new highs in 2025, which I believe will continue for at least another year or two."Here's the latest Seeking Alpha analysis4 Top Beaten-Down Tech StocksAlphabet: Something Doesn't Add UpWhy I'm Parking 45% Of My BDC Capital In These 2 NamesRocket Lab: This Could Be One Of The Biggest Moats In A DecadeBuy The Dip: 2 Blue-Chip Dividend Growth Stocks Getting Way Too CheapWhat else is happening...Amazon (AMZN) may be looking at ending USPS partnership.U.S. plans more stakes in critical minerals companies, official says.CDC panel vote on hepatitis B shots postponed over confusion.Chevron flies Venezuela staff to oil sites despite U.S. warning.IMAX (IMAX) rises on upbeat three-year targets at investor day.Costco's strong sales stoke talk of special dividend, stock split.Humana (HUM), Mark Cuban in talks for pharmacy partnership.New fuel economy rule could bring back '70s station wagon - Duffy.IKEA to source more products from U.S. as tariffs drive up costs.The World Cup is coming: How investors can get the ball rolling.Today's MarketsIn Asia, Japan -1.1%. Hong Kong +0.6%. China +0.7%. India +0.5%.In Europe, at midday, London +0.1%. Paris +0.3%. Frankfurt +0.6%.Futures at 6:30, Dow flat. S&P +0.2%. Nasdaq +0.4%. Crude -0.2% to $59.56. Gold +0.3% to $4,254.10. Bitcoin -1.8% to $91,188.Ten-year Treasury Yield +1 bp to 4.11%.On The CalendarCompanies reporting today include Victoria's Secret (VSCO).See the full earnings calendar on Seeking Alpha, as well as today's economic calendar.