Factory activity picked up steam in December as order books rebounded heading into the holiday season. This data point matters more than you'd think—when production accelerates and demand signals strengthen, it tends to ripple through broader market sentiment. The timing is interesting too: manufacturers ramping up right before year-end usually suggests business confidence isn't completely in the tank. Whether this momentum carries into Q1 will be worth watching, especially for traders monitoring how macroeconomic winds might influence asset flows. The rebound in orders could indicate either genuine demand revival or just seasonal stockpiling before the new year. Either way, it's the kind of real-world economic signal that shapes trader psychology across all markets.