[Wall Street Analysts Warn: This Year's 'Santa Claus Rally' May Be Absent, Investors Are Buying More Downside Protection] BlockBeats News, December 1 – The 'Santa Claus Rally' is traditionally one of Wall Street's most anticipated events. After Thanksgiving, U.S. stocks tend to rise slowly, volatility decreases, and December often becomes one of the strongest-performing months of the year. However, strategists are suggesting that this year, 'Santa Claus' might not show up. Amy Wu Silverman, head of derivatives strategy at RBC Capital Markets, stated: 'I’m not sure if we’ll see a "Santa Claus Rally," but we will definitely encounter another "pit" of volatility, or rather, a rebound in volatility.' She noted that bearish sentiment in the options market has increased, and investors are buying more downside protection. Omar Aguilar, CEO and Chief Investment Officer of Schwab Asset Management, also observed similar risks brewing beneath the surface. On Monday, he remarked: 'We are seeing a lot of dispersion and divergence. Following the government shutdown, the arrival of new macroeconomic data has been uneven, and there are early signs of leadership rotation across sectors.' (Jin10)