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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – DECEMBER 29: Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on the last day of trading for the year on December 29, 2023 in New York City. The Dow was up slightly in morning trading in what has been a strong year for the stock market despite many economists predictions that the American economy would experience a recession. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Spencer Platt | Getty Images News | Getty Images

This report is from today’s CNBC Daily Open, our new, international markets newsletter. CNBC Daily Open brings investors up to speed on everything they need to know, no matter where they are. Like what you see? You can subscribe here.

What you need to know today

Last trading day of 2023
U.S. stocks fell Friday, disappointing investors who were hoping the S&P 500 would close the year on a record high. Still, it was a mighty good year for major indexes. Europe’s Stoxx 600 index added 0.2%, giving it a 12.6% gain for the year. Germany’s DAX posted more impressive gains, rising 20.31% despite the country’s gloomy economic outlook.

Nasdaq rebound
The Nasdaq Composite popped 43% in 2023, its best year since 2020. Only 2020 and 2009 saw bigger gains for the tech-heavy index, which is all the more impressive considering how the Nasdaq plunged 33% in 2022. What changed last year? The biggest story: Investors returned to risk, driven by a surge in generative artificial intelligence and the U.S. Federal Reserve halting rate hikes.

Bullish on bitcoin
Bitcoin rallied about 152% in 2023 despite high-profile criminal cases against cryptocurrency exchanges FTX and Binance. Bitcoin was last trading slightly above $44,000 — and many industry executives think the cryptocurrency’s poised for a new bull run, thanks to an event known as “halving” and the potential approval of a bitcoin exchange-traded fund in the U.S.

Price-sensitive consumers
U.S. companies are losing their pricing power. During the pandemic, consumers splurged on goods — and when the pandemic was over, services, like eating out and traveling, were in hot demand. Companies took advantage of that willingness to spend and increased their prices to pad their earnings. But in 2023, consumers are cutting back — and it’s affecting Wall Street.

[PRO] Things to look forward to
Investors have reason to be optimistic in 2024, writes CNBC’s Sarah Min. The three interest rate cuts that the Federal Reserve has penciled in for this year will likely be a tide that lifts all boats, meaning that last year’s Magnificent Seven-driven rally should broaden out. But not everyone’s so bullish about 2024.

The bottom line

Instead of ending the year with a bang by surpassing its all-time high, the S&P 500 let out a whimper — to paraphrase the poet T.S. Eliot’s famous lines — and fell 0.28% on the last trading day of 2023.

Other major indexes lost momentum and retreated too. The Dow Jones Industrial Average inched down 0.05% and the Nasdaq Composite lost 0.56%.

As with any market move, it’s hard to attribute any definitive reason to it. I think, however, the S&P’s December rally was too reliant on the Federal Reserve’s dovish pivot. Without further positive news, and with the optimism priced in already, the S&P didn’t have a concrete reason to rise further.

Moreover, several analysts have pointed out that stocks are already priced above their fair valuation; that is, the price of a stock may be too high relative to its earnings per share.

“Arguably, the bull market is overbought, and there are too many bulls,” Ed Yardeni of Yardeni Research wrote. Echoing that sentiment, Sarat Sethi, managing partner at DCLA, told CNBC he thinks “valuations are stretched.”

Still, let’s not throw away the baby with the bathwater. Friday’s disappointing session aside, 2023 has been a banner year for a huge swathe of the market. Here are, in my book, the biggest winners and losers of last year:

Winners

  • U.S. indexes: For 2023, the S&P jumped 24.23%, the Dow gained 13.8% and the Nasdaq rocketed 43.42%.
  • Bitcoin: Shrugging off the high-profile criminal cases against FTX and Binance, bitcoin surged around 152%.
  • Gold: The precious metal recorded its first annual gain since 2020 of 13%, as geopolitical risks and peak interest rates made gold shinier to investors.

Losers

Although part of financial journalism necessarily involves making predictions, a quick glance at that list shows how difficult it is to do so. Going into 2023, many thought a recession was in the cards. Instead, markets were dealt a winning hand. Here’s hoping 2024 thwarts all the negative predictions and delivers positive surprises too.

Happy 2024!

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Jackery HomePower 3600 Plus gets up to $2,300 early-bird savings, EcoFlow DELTA Pro Ultra expanded bundle at new $5,604 low, more

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September 12, 2025

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Jackery HomePower 3600 Plus gets up to ,300 early-bird savings, EcoFlow DELTA Pro Ultra expanded bundle at new ,604 low, more

Today’s Green Deals is packed with power station deals, alongside some EVs, tools, and security devices too. Headlining our end-of-the-week edition is Jackery’s new HomePower 3600 Plus Portable Power Station, which is getting up to $2,300 in early-bird member-only discounts, starting from $1699. We also spotted EcoFlow’s DELTA Pro Ultra with an expansion battery (12.2kWh) hitting a new $5,604 low, as well as Anker’s SOLIX Fan Fest four-unit weekend flash sale, which has returned the F3000 Portable Power Station to its $1,599 Prime Day low, among others. From there, we have EcoFlow’s parallel Outdoor Sale, an exclusive deal on Anker’s newest solar-powered security cameras, Hiboy’s Fall EV Sale, a Worx backpack blower, and more waiting for you below. Plus, there are all the hangover deals collected at the bottom of the page, like yesterday’s exclusive Bluetti Apex 300 station and bundle deals, the Lectric Endless Summer e-bike Sale, and more.

Head below for other New Green Deals we’ve found today and, of course, Electrek’s best EV buying and leasing deals. Also, check out the new Electrek Tesla Shop for the best deals on Tesla accessories.

Get up to $2,300 in early-bird savings on Jackery’s new HomePower 3600 Plus LiFePO4 power station starting from $1,699

Jackery has just launched its early-bird member-only discounts (free to sign up) on its new HomePower 3600 Plus Portable Power Station starting from $1,699 shipped that will run through September 21, along with some bundle options, as well (more on those below). This new unit follows right behind the recent launch of the HomePower 3000 station, carrying a slightly higher full price of $2,799, and also coming in $100 higher at Amazon. This is the first chance at savings ahead of the new backup solution officially releasing, with it getting $1,100 here that sets the bar for future discounts down the road.

It’s quite a surprise to see Jackery releasing this new HomePower 3600 Plus unit not long after its HomePower 3000 model’s release, though it makes sense as this new descendant fills the gap between the 3000 and the brand’s Explorer 5000 Plus home backup unit. It starts with a 3,584Wh LiFePO4 battery capacity that can expand as high as 21kWh with additional equipment. It provides up to 3,600W of steady output and surges up to 7,200W for hungrier devices/appliances, complete with 10 port options that include five AC outlets, two USB-C ports, two USB-A ports, and a car port.

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As the Jackery HomePower 3600 Plus is a bolstered descendant to the HomePower 3000, it shouldn’t come as any surprise that it brings much of the same charging capabilities to the table, with plugging into a standard outlet having it back to a full battery in 2.5 hours, while also offering options for dual AC and DC charging, gas generator bypass charging, a maximum 1,000W solar input, and a car port to charge as you drive.

Jackery’s early-bird HomePower 3600 Plus member deals:

Jackery’s Amazon-only HomePower 3600 Plus deals:

EcoFlow DELTA Pro Ultra powering computer during blackout

You can now save $3,195 on EcoFlow’s expanded DELTA Pro Ultra 12.2kWh bundle at a new $5,604 low

Over at Wellbots, we just spotted an amazing opportunity for anyone wanting to go big with their home backup support, with EcoFlow’s DELTA Pro Ultra Power Station bundled with one expansion battery at $5,604.05 shipped, which appears after an automatic 5% discount is applied in your cart, and currently beats Amazon’s pricing by $894. While it carries a $9,397 MSRP directly from the brand (currently $6798), at Wellbots, however, it starts off at a lower $8,799 full price. The discounts we’ve seen up until today have only ever dropped costs on this package as low as $6,299, which we last saw during July’s Prime Day event. The deal here gives you more savings than ever as $3,195 is cut from the tag (not to mention it’s $3,793 off its MSRP), landing it at a new all-time low price.

If you want to learn more about this power station’s capabilities, be sure to check out our original coverage of this deal here.

Anker SOLIX F3000 Portable Power Station sitting in front of open refrigerator

Anker’s SOLIX Fan Fest weekend flash sale drops new F3000 power station back to $1,599 Prime Day low

As part of its ongoing SOLIX Fan Fest Sale running through September 21, Anker has launched a weekend flash sale that is bringing the costs down on four different units. Among them, we spotted Anker’s new SOLIX F3000 Portable Power Station with a FREE 120V generator input adapter dropping down to $1,599 shipped, which beats out Amazon’s pricing by $51, and sadly, the extra 5% savings code isn’t valid for these deals. It was already brought down from its $2,599 full price to $1,649 in the sale, with the flash savings here returning it to this rate for the first time since it appeared during July’s Prime Day event. You’re looking at the second-ever chance to pick it up at the best price we have tracked – plus, you’re getting the free adapter cable that is valued at $99 normally, which only sweetens the pot.

If you want to learn more about this power station’s capabilities, as well as the three other offers, be sure to check out our original coverage of this flash sale here.

man drinking beverage outside RV next to EcoFlow DELTA 2 Max power station

EcoFlow’s parallel Outdoor Sale gears you up for adventures in nature with up to 62% discounts starting from $90

Running alongside its Home Backup/Hurricane Preparedness Sale, EcoFlow also has a separate Outdoor Sale running through September 14 with up to 62% discounts on power stations, power banks, and bundles tailored for adventures in nature, complete with bonus savings. Among the lineup, we spotted EcoFlow’s DELTA 2 Max Portable Power Station bundled with an 800W alternator charger at $1,139.05 shipped, after using the code 25EFDCAFF at checkout for a bonus 5% off, which beats out Amazon’s pricing by $760. This bundle fetches $2,498 at full price direct from the brand, though it can usually be found for $1,899 at Amazon. Discounts over the year have dropped costs as low as $1,049, with those two deals both happening in July. The deal we’re seeing here is a combined $1,359 markdown off the MSRP, which lands it at the second-lowest price we have tracked.

If you want to learn more about this particular bundle, or check out the other great outdoor backup power solutions seeing discounts, be sure to check out our original coverage of this sale here.

Anker EufyCam S3 Pro solar security camera mounted to exterior wall on sunny day

Save an exclusive $120 on Anker’s solar-powered EufyCam S3 Pro 4K 2-camera kit at second-best $430

We’ve secured an exclusive deal from Wellbots on the Anker EufyCam S3 Pro Solar-Powered 4K 2-Camera Kit with HomeBase 3 for $429.99 shipped, after using the exclusive code 9TO5EUFY120 at checkout. Normally going for $550 at full price, this newer security alternative has mostly seen drops to $440 throughout 2025, with a one-time fall to the $380 low back during July’s Prime Day. The deal here is giving you a 22% markdown that cuts $120 off the going rate for the second-lowest rate we have tracked and the best current price we can find.

If you want to learn more about this 2-camera bundle, be sure to check out our original coverage of this exclusive deal here.

man riding Hiboy's EX6F Folding e-bike down road

Hiboy’s Fall Sale takes up to 50% off EVs, like the new and improved EX6F Folding e-bike at $980

Hiboy has launched its Fall Sale that is taking up to 50% off its lineup of e-bikes and e-scooters, with three tiers of extra savings at certain price thresholds. Among the lineup, we spotted the brand’s new EX6F Low-Step Foldable e-bike at $979.98 shipped, after using the code FALL20 at checkout, which beats out Amazon’s current pricing by $170. This model hit the market mid-June with a $1,580 price tag, which has mostly kept down at $1000 in sales since, save for the original launch deal that saw it drop to $950. The deal we’re seeing during this sale is a combined 38% markdown that cuts $600 off the tag for the second-lowest price we have tracked.

If you want to learn more about this new e-bike, as well as the other models seeing discounts, be sure to check out our original coverage of this sale here.

man clearing leaves with Worx Nitro 80V Cordless backpack leaf blower

Worx’s Nitro 80V cordless backpack leaf blower kit produces up to 800 CFM clearing power for $400

Amazon is offering the Worx Nitro 80V 800 CFM Cordless Backpack Leaf Blower for $399.99 shipped. It normally fetches $500 at full price, with the discounts we’ve seen through the year having regularly returned costs to this same rate. While we did see it fall within a range of $362 to $349, that was a one-time occurrence that we haven’t seen again since late April, with you otherwise getting the next-best pricing here. You’ll save $100 off the going rate for the best price we can currently find, all while upgrading your arsenal from more standard hand-carry models.

If you want to learn more about this leaf blower, be sure to check out our original coverage of this deal here.

Best Summer EV deals!

Best new Green Deals landing this week

The savings this week are also continuing to a collection of other markdowns. To the same tune as the offers above, these all help you take a more energy-conscious approach to your routine. Winter means you can lock in even better off-season price cuts on electric tools for the lawn while saving on EVs and tons of other gear.


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Toyota is recalling over 590,000 vehicles and halting EV sales

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1 hour ago

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September 12, 2025

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Toyota is recalling over 590,000 vehicles and halting EV sales

Toyota-recalling-vehicles

Toyota was hit with a major recall on Friday, impacting around 591,000 vehicles in the US. The company is recalling certain RAV4, Camry, Corolla, Grand Highlander, and several Lexus models. The situation gets worse with another recall leading to a stop-sale of Toyota, Lexus, and Subaru electric vehicles.

Toyota recalls 591,000 vehicles, halts EV sales in the US

On Friday, Toyota issued a voluntary recall with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) involving roughly 591,000 cars in the US.

The recall affects select Toyota Venza, Crown, Crown Signia, RAV4, GR Corolla, 4Runner, Camry, Grand Highlander, Tacoma, and Highlander models, as well as specific Lexus LS, RX, and TX vehicles.

Toyota said the recall is due to a glitch with the infotainment system. The 12.3″ display screen could fail to turn on after starting the vehicle, or even worse, go blank while driving. Toyota will begin notifying those with impacted vehicles by mid-November 2025.

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In a separate notice last week, Toyota issued another major recall, impacting nearly 95,000 electric vehicles. The recall involved certain 2023 to 2025 Toyota bZ4X, Lexus RZ, and Subaru Solterras.

Toyota-bZ4X-recall
2025 Toyota bZ4X Limited AWD Supersonic Red (Source: Toyota)

The bZ4X accounts for the majority of those being recalled, with nearly 41,500, followed by the Solterra at 32,320 and the Lexus RZ with 20,501.

Toyota instructed dealers to halt sales of bZ4X, Lexus RZ, and Subaru Solterra models produced up to mid-June. All of which are based on the same platform. According to the memo, the recall is due to a faulty defroster, which is pretty self-explanatory as to why it poses a safety risk.

2025-Subaru-Solterra-EV-recall
2025 Subaru Solterra (Source: Subaru)

If your vehicle is included in the recall, you can take it to a dealer, where they will update the HVAC control ECU software, free of charge.

Toyota plans to mail notification letters to owners on October 20, 2025. You can contact Toyota’s customer service hotline at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota’s recall numbers are 25TB07 and 25TA07. Lexus’ numbers for this recall are 25LB04 and 25LA04. Subaru’s recall number is WRD-25.

You can also contact the NHTSA hotline at 1-888-327-4236 or visit the website NHTSA.gov for more information.


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VW on Tesla Supercharger access: be patient, it should be coming this year

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2 hours ago

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September 12, 2025

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VW on Tesla Supercharger access: be patient, it should be coming this year

public EV charging ports

VW is advising customers to be a little more patient with Tesla Supercharger access, as it claims to be experiencing technical issues.

The German brand is the last one to give Supercharger access to its North American EV owners.

Tesla first announced the opening of its Supercharger network to other electric vehicles in 2021, but the rollout has been slow.

The automaker successfully persuaded the rest of the North American auto industry to adopt its connector as the new standard. It struck deals with them to gain access to its Supercharger network, which is by far the best and most reliable fast-charging EV network in North America, thereby sweetening the deal.

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However, the transition wasn’t exactly smooth.

Last year, Elon Musk fired Tesla’s entire charging team, which had built the world’s best charging network, over a dispute with the team’s head. Tesla ended up having to rehire some of the staff, and other automakers admitted that this slowed down the Supercharger integration process.

Nonetheless, the integration started to be finalized this year, with electric vehicles from virtually all other automakers now having access to most Tesla Superchargers in North America.

However, there’s one big exception: VW electric vehicles, specifically the ID.4 and ID Buzz.

Last week, Porsche and Audi, which are both part of the Volkswagen Group, announced that their North American EV owners have now access to the Supercharger network.

This led people to believe that VW shouldn’t be too far behind.

VW has now commented on encountering “technical challenges” and has asked owners for their patience. The German automaker still believes that access should come by the end of the year (via PC Mag):

“Volkswagen looks forward to making it possible for ID. Buzz and ID.4 vehicle owners to gain access to the Tesla NACS Partner Superchargers. The timeline has been delayed by technical challenges, and we ask for customers’ patience. We still expect to deliver access this year.”

It’s unclear what those technical challenges are, but VW has been experiencing notorious software issues for years now.

More recently, the company decided to partner with Rivian for assistance with the software side.


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