US lags global surge, valuation gap widens, Japan energy deal advances

Stocks are rebounding after another AI-driven sell-off, with housing starts and durable goods topping estimates despite December declines. Still, US equities are off to their worst relative start since 1995, as investors await the GDP report and reassess positioning. The S&P 500’s premium has widened to roughly 40% over global peers, prompting debate over allocations. International markets are up about 8% year to date, while the US is flat, driven mainly by multiple expansion rather than earnings. Japan will deploy $36B into US energy and critical minerals, part of a broader $550B framework, backing a major Ohio ga...