This past year won’t soon be forgotten. In 2025, conventional thinking about economics and investor behavior was frequently challenged, as dramatic changes in technology, energy and geopolitics drove markets in often unexpected ways.As the clock turns to 2026, here are 8 general market movers that can help explain what happened in 2025 and what it might mean for 2026 and beyond.1. Trade TurmoilPresident Donald Trump’s "America First" agenda proved to be a key market driver in 2025 – particularly in the first half of the year – as the U.S.