Overview
- The S&P 500 fell 0.7% to 6,845.50, the Dow dropped 0.6% to 48,063.29, and the Nasdaq declined 0.8% to 23,241.99 on Wednesday.
- For 2025, the S&P 500 rose 16.4%, the Nasdaq gained 20.4%, and the Dow advanced 13.0%, extending a three-year winning streak for U.S. stocks.
- Holiday-week trading was thin, with 11.17 billion shares changing hands on U.S. exchanges versus a 20-day average of 15.8 billion.
- AI-led leadership defined the rally, with Nvidia up about 39% for the year and reported to have reached a $5 trillion market value.
- The year saw volatility tied to President Donald Trump’s tariff moves, and investors head into 2026 focused on the Federal Reserve’s policy path.