Global Markets Surge in 2024, U.S. Stocks Lead With Tech Gains

The U.S. economy defied recession fears, driving strong stock market performance, while inflation and policy uncertainties loom for 2025.

The S&P 500 rose 23% in 2024, marking consecutive years of over 20% growth for the first time since 1998, driven by tech giants like Nvidia, Apple, and Microsoft.
The Nasdaq outperformed with a 30% gain, fueled by demand for artificial intelligence technologies, while smaller-cap indexes like the Russell 2000 grew more modestly by 10%.
Bitcoin reached historic highs, surpassing $100,000 in 2024, with predictions for 2025 ranging from $75,000 to $250,000, influenced by institutional adoption and regulatory changes.
The Federal Reserve cut interest rates in late 2024, boosting markets, but concerns about lingering inflation and potential policy shifts under the incoming Trump administration remain.
Global markets showed mixed results, with U.S. stocks leading, modest gains in Germany, and underperformance in the UK and France, reflecting regional economic and political challenges.