Overview
- The S&P 500, Dow and Nasdaq finished slightly lower, with the S&P 500 still up more than 17% in 2025 and on pace for an eighth straight monthly gain and a third consecutive yearly advance.
- Heavyweight AI and tech names led the pullback, with declines in stocks such as Nvidia and Tesla, while energy shares rose alongside crude near the upper-$50s to low-$60s per barrel.
- Minutes from the Federal Reserve’s December meeting detailed a 25-basis-point cut and revealed divisions over the economic outlook, reinforcing a cautious stance toward further easing.
- Gold and silver rebounded after a sharp, margin-driven drop the prior session, leaving gold up roughly in the mid-60% range for the year and silver more than doubled.
- Global trading stayed thin in the holiday week with mixed moves across regions, and Tokyo’s Nikkei notched its first year-end close above 50,000 as U.S. markets prepare to close for New Year’s Day.