As Wall Street wakes up on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, investors are still digesting a wild Monday session in which a handful of biotech and tech names exploded higher, even as the major indices finished in the red ahead of tomorrow’s pivotal Federal Reserve decision. [1]
Because today’s regular trading session has only just begun, “today’s biggest gainers” in practice means the largest movers from Monday’s US session (Dec. 8) that are driving market conversation and premarket positioning on Dec. 9 . Below is a news-style roundup of those stocks, the catalysts behind the rallies, and what Wall Street is saying about what comes next.
Market backdrop: indexes slip, Fed and Nvidia dominate the macro story
On Monday, December 8:
- The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell about 0.45% ,
- The S&P 500 lost 0.35% , and
- The Nasdaq Composite slipped 0.14% ,
with most S&P 500 sectors in the red as investors waited for Wednesday’s Fed rate decision. [2]
Traders are pricing in a widely expected 25 bps rate cut this week , but uncertainty about the pace of cuts in 2026 has kept risk appetite contained. [3]Oppenheimer added a bullish long‑term note by setting a Street‑high 2026 year‑end S&P 500 target of 8,100 , citing resilient earnings and macro strength. [4]
At the same time, AI and chip headlines are front and center . The White House reported it will allow Nvidia’s H200 AI chips to be exported to China with a 25% fee on such sales, a move that helped lift Nvidia shares and reinforced AI as a key macro theme. [5]
Against that cautious but AI‑driven backdrop, a cluster of high‑beta biotech and tech stocks became the clear winners .
Leaderboard: who really were the biggest US stock gainers?
Based on Nasdaq gainers data and market-mover screens as of the close on Monday, Dec. 8 , the most dramatic percentage winners on US exchanges were: [6]
- Top Wealth Group Holding (TWG) – ≈ +270%
- Orangekloud Technology (ORKT) – ≈ +150%
- Wave Life Sciences (WVE) – ≈ +147%
- Cemtrex (CETX) – ≈ +130%
- WeBuy Global (WBUY) – ≈ +106%
- Structure Therapeutics (GPCR) – ≈ +100%
- Biodexa Pharmaceuticals (BDRX) – ≈ +75%
- Creative Media & Community Trust (CMCT) – ≈ +70%
- Kymera Therapeutics (KYMR) – ≈ +42% [7]
- Fulcrum Therapeutics (FULC) – ≈ +46%
- Confluent (CFLT) – ≈ +29%
Many of these are micro‑ or small‑cap names , where relatively modest inflows can produce extraordinary percentage moves. But several have real, news‑driven catalysts with implications that stretch well beyond one trading day.
Let’s break down the key stories.
1. Obesity biotechs steal the show: Wave Life Sciences (WVE) and Structure Therapeutics (GPCR)
Wave Life Sciences (WVE): RNA shot obesity electrifies the market
Move: Wave Life Sciences stock surged roughly 135–150% on Monday, hitting a five-year high and landing among the top gainers across US markets. [8]
Catalyst: Wave unveiled interim Phase 1 data for obesity candidate WVE‑007 , an RNA‑based therapy designed to silence the INHBE gene and reduce the activin E protein, which regulates fat and energy metabolism. In a three‑month read‑out after a single 240 mg dose:
- Visceral fat fell by about 9–9.4% ,
- Total body fat fell around 4–4.5% ,
- Lean mass increased by roughly 3.2% ,
with patients not required to change diet or exercise . [9]
Crucially, the lean‑mass preservation differentiates WVE‑007 from many GLP‑1 drugs, which often cause loss of both fat and muscle. Analysts at Mizuho called the data “overall very positive” and highlighted that the trial used the lowest dose and an early time point , implying room for stronger efficacy at higher doses. [10]
Analyst reaction and forecasts
- RBC Capital upgraded Wave to “Outperform” on the back of the obesity data, underscoring its potential to “disrupt” the treatment landscape. [11]
- Several comments argue WVE‑007 could evolve into a once‑or twice‑yearly treatment targeting fat specifically, which—if borne out in later‑stage studies—would be highly competitive versus chronic GLP‑1 injections. [12]
What to watch next
Wave plans additional data from higher‑dose cohorts in 1H 2026 , and the company will need to move into larger, longer trials to address safety, durability of effect, and regulatory requirements. [13]
For now, though, WVE has become one of the flagship “new obesity” trades and a poster child for how early‑stage data can ignite biotech shares.
Structure Therapeutics (GPCR): oral GLP‑1 pill doubles on Phase 2b success
Move: Structure Therapeutics more than doubled in a single session , rising around 100% and hitting a new 52‑week high after releasing Phase 2b data for its obesity pill aleniglipron . [14]
Catalyst: In the ACCESS Phase 2b trial and an exploratory study, aleniglipron delivered:
- Around 11.3% placebo‑adjusted mean weight loss (27.3 lbs) at 36 weeks at the 120 mg dose, with a 10.4% discontinuation rate due to side effects. [15]
- Higher doses (180–240 mg) in extended analysis showed weight loss up to 15%+ vs. placebo , with no apparent plateau. [16]
CEO Raymond Stevens has described aleniglipron as a potential “best‑in‑class” oral GLP‑1 , emphasizing its scalability and the possibility of combination regimens. [17]
Analyst reaction and forecasts
- Multiple banks (Jefferies, Stifel, HC Wainwright, Citizens) reiterated Buy/Outperform ratings, with price targets generally in the $50–$87 range, even after the big move. [18]
- A number of houses now categorize GPCR as a key “next‑wave obesity” pure play , potentially rivaling drugs from Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk if Phase 3 studies confirm the profile. [19]
What to watch next
Structure plans to start Phase 3 trials in mid‑2026 , and the company also received FDA clearance to begin Phase 1 testing of a second oral weight‑loss candidate targeting amylin, broadening its franchise. [20]
Sector impact: pressure on Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk
The explosion in Wave and Structure shares weighed on incumbents:
- Novo Nordisk fell about 2.7% ,
- Eli Lilly slipped roughly 1.4% ,
as investors reassessed the long‑run competitive moat around leading GLP‑1 brands like Wegovy and Zepbound. [21]
Analysts note that while the giants still control commercial markets, competition is intensifying , and multi‑billion‑dollar slices of the obesity pie could be carved out by new entrants with differentiated mechanisms or oral dosing.
2. Kymera Therapeutics (KYMR): eczema pill lights up inflammatory‑disease space
Move: Kymera Therapeutics shares jumped about 40–42% to record highs, putting KYMR firmly on the top‑gainers list. [22]
Catalyst: Kymera reported positive Phase 1b results for KT-621 , a first-in-class oral degrader of STAT6 for atopic dermatitis (eczema) and potentially asthma: [23]
- STAT6 degradation of ≈94% in skin and ≈98% in blood at 100–200 mg doses.
- Around 60%+ symptom reduction in eczema measures, with a favorable safety profile and no major conjunctivitis signals that sometimes complicated biologics like Dupixent. [24]
Analysts at Barron’s, Investors Business Daily and others highlighted the convenience of a once-daily pill and the potential to compete with or complement existing biologics in eczema and asthma. [25]
Kymera is already running a Phase 2b eczema trial (BroADen2) with results expected in mid‑2027 , and plans a Phase 2b asthma trial in early 2026 . [26]
3. Fulcrum Therapeutics (FULC): sickle‑cell pill momentum and analyst upgrades
Move: Fulcrum Therapeutics climbed roughly 45–65% on Monday, ranking among the most active biotech gainers. [27]
Catalysts:
- Clinical data: At the American Society of Hematology (ASH) meeting, Fulcrum presented 20 mg cohort data from its Phase 1b PIONEER trial of pociredir in sickle cell disease, showing a meaningful rise in fetal hemoglobin (HbF), a key biomarker for reducing painful seizures. [28]
- Strong follow‑up coverage: A series of write‑ups emphasized stronger HbF induction at the higher dose and a clean safety profile, positioning the pill as a potential once‑daily alternative or complement to gene therapies. [29]
- Bullish analysts: HC Wainwright kept a Buy rating and raised its price target to $25 , while Stifel also boosted its target on the back of the ASH data. [30]
Fulcrum also announced a $150 million public stock offering , which could temper near‑term upside but shores up the balance sheet as the company moves deeper into development. [31]
4. AI & data infrastructure: Confluent (CFLT) soars on IBM’s $11 billion takeover
Move:Confluent (CFLT) shares surged about 29–34% , one of the largest percentage gains among mid‑to large‑cap tech names, after IBM announced an $11 billion, all‑cash acquisition . [32]
Deal terms and rationale
- IBM will pay $31 per share in cash , a ~34% premium to Confluent’s prior close, valuing the company at $11 billion . [33]
- Confluent’s platform manages real‑time data streams used to feed AI and modern applications; IBM liked the pipeline to “railroads for the AI era” in terms of moving data around enterprise environments. [34]
Analysts across the FT, Barron’s and tech‑focused outlets see the deal as:
- A strategic extension of IBM’s AI and hybrid cloud stack, following its HashiCorp acquisition in 2024. [35]
- Fair but not extravagant for Confluent shareholders, with some brokers downgrading the stock now that upside is largely capped by the take‑out price. [36]
The acquisition is expected to be accretive to IBM’s EBITDA within the first full year after closing and cash flow accretive in year two, assuming regulatory and shareholder approvals by mid-2026. [37]
5. Micro‑cap rockets: TWG, ORKT, CETX, WBUY and friends
While the obesity and AI narratives captured headlines, extreme moves in thinly traded micro‑caps dominated the raw percentage leaderboard:
- Top Wealth Group Holding (TWG) – up roughly 271% in Monday’s session, leading Nasdaq gainers. [38]
- Orangekloud Technology (ORKT) – surged about 148–150% , with intraday swings over 150%. ORKT has been on a multi‑day run, now up more than 150% over two weeks, driven mostly by speculative momentum and a tiny float rather than a single, clear headline. [39]
- Cemtrex (CETX) – gained roughly 130–165% , another small‑cap favorite for short‑term traders. [40]
- WeBuy Global (WBUY) – climbed around 106% , riding heavy volume despite limited fundamental news. [41]
These names often have market caps in the tens of millions of dollars , so relatively modest absolute inflows can produce spectacular‑looking percentage moves. Many day‑trading and momentum‑focused services highlighted these tickers as classic high‑risk, high‑volatility setups rather than fundamentals‑driven long‑term ideas. [42]
6. Other notable gainers: CMCT, BDRX and more
A few additional stocks also saw strong rallies tied to prior or ongoing corporate actions and pipeline updates:
- Creative Media & Community Trust (CMCT) – Shares have been volatile since the REIT agreed to sell its lending business for about $44 million and sharpen its focus on multifamily real estate. Recent coverage notes that the sale and strategic pivot triggered a sharp price spike, and CMCT remained elevated into Monday’s session. [43]
- Biodexa Pharmaceuticals (BDRX) – The micro-cap biotech jumped nearly 40% intraday on Monday on heavy volume, with trading-oriented outlets highlighting it as a speculative biotech momentum play rather than on the back of a single transformative announcement. [44]
7. How today’s gainers fit into the broader 2025 market narrative
Even though Monday’s winners span very different sectors, several common themes emerge:
a) “Obesity 2.0” and metabolic health
Wave, Structure and, to a lesser extent, Kymera and Fulcrum sit at the intersection of:
- Obesity and metabolic disease
- Next‑gen RNA and small‑molecule technology
- The push for less invasive, more convenient treatments (pills or infrequent injections)
After the first wave of GLP‑1 blockbusters, investors are now actively searching for “what’s next” —oral GLP‑1s, gene‑targeting medicines, combination regimens and agents that preserve lean mass . Monday’s data show that small and mid-cap biotechs can still move the goalposts, and the market is rewarding them with massive single-day re-ratings. [45]
b) AI as a data‑infrastructure story, not just GPUs
Nvidia’s H200 export reprieve to China grabbed headlines, but the IBM–Confluent deal underlines a second AI narrative: whoever controls the data plumbing —the streaming, governance and orchestration layers—can capture long‑term value even if chip cycles ebb and flow. [46]
That’s why Confluent could surge almost 30% on a day when the broader market was down: AI infrastructure M&A is alive and well, and investors are watching for the next likely targets in adjacent software verticals.
c) Fed, rates and risk appetite
With a Fed rate cut all but fully priced in for Wednesday , traders are now more focused on how many cuts will come in 2026 . Global markets are cautious, but the willingness of investors to chase early‑stage biotech and micro‑cap rallies suggests that risk appetite is far from dead , especially in pockets where perceived long‑term optionality is high. [47]
8. What this means for investors (and key risks to remember)
For readers following “biggest stock gainers today” as part of their US market research, a few takeaways stand out:
- Big percentage moves ≠ low risk.
Many of the top names—TWG, ORKT, CETX, WBUY, BDRX—are thinly traded, micro‑cap stocks that can reverse just as violently as they rally. Their moves often reflect liquidity and short‑term trading dynamics more than sustainable business improvements. - Biotech rallies are data‑dependent.
Wave, Structure, Kymera and Fulcrum posted genuinely meaningful clinical updates, but all are still in early‑or mid‑stage trials . Future data sets, regulatory feedback and competitive responses can dramatically change the picture, in either direction. - Takeovers cap upside but de‑risk outcomes.
Confluent’s jump reflects a locked‑in acquisition price , which limits further upside but reduces uncertainty for shareholders. Post‑deal, analyst focus typically shifts to IBM’s integration and AI positioning, rather than CFLT as a standalone growth stock. - Macro remains the backdrop.
Fed policy, inflation and global growth still drive index‑level returns. Monday’s gainers show where investors are willing to stretch for growth and innovation even in a cautious macro environment, but those positions remain sensitive to shifts in rates and risk sentiment.
References
1. www.reuters.com, 2. www.reuters.com, 3. www.reuters.com, 4. www.reuters.com, 5. www.tipranks.com, 6. stockanalysis.com, 7. stockanalysis.com, 8. stockanalysis.com, 9. ir.wavelifesciences.com, 10. www.fiercebiotech.com, 11. www.investing.com, 12. www.investors.com, 13. ir.wavelifesciences.com, 14. stockanalysis.com, 15. ir.structuretx.com, 16. www.investors.com, 17. www.investors.com, 18. www.investing.com, 19. www.barrons.com, 20. www.investors.com, 21. www.barrons.com, 22. stockanalysis.com, 23. www.barrons.com, 24. www.investopedia.com, 25. www.barrons.com, 26. www.barrons.com, 27. stockanalysis.com, 28. ir.fulcrumtx.com, 29. www.stocktitan.net, 30. www.marketbeat.com, 31. ir.fulcrumtx.com, 32. www.reuters.com, 33. www.reuters.com, 34. www.ft.com, 35. www.ft.com, 36. www.investing.com, 37. newsroom.ibm.com, 38. m.economictimes.com, 39. stockanalysis.com, 40. stockanalysis.com, 41. stockanalysis.com, 42. www.moomoo.com, 43. www.financecharts.com, 44. stockstotrade.com, 45. www.barrons.com, 46. www.tipranks.com, 47. www.reuters.com
