At a Glance
- Stocks slipped in quiet trading as Wall Street entered a holiday-shortened week.
- The S&P 500 dropped 0.3% to 6,905.74, while the Dow fell 0.5% to 48,461.93.
- Energy stocks rose as oil prices climbed, with U.S. crude up 2.4% to $58.08 per barrel.
- Why it matters: Year-end gains remain strong, but tech and commodity shifts hint at volatility ahead of the New Year.
On Monday, Wall Street opened lower in a quiet session that marked the start of a holiday-shortened week. With only two trading days left before the market closes for New Year’s Day, investors are watching how the final swings will affect year-end totals.
Market Overview
Major indices slipped modestly, but the impact on the broader annual performance is minimal. The S&P 500 fell 24.20 points, or 0.3%, to 6,905.74. It remains up more than 17% for the year and is on track for its eighth consecutive monthly gain.
| Index | Change | Close |
|---|---|---|
| S&P 500 | -24.20 pts (0.3%) | 6,905.74 |
| Dow Jones | -249.04 pts (0.5%) | 48,461.93 |
| Nasdaq | -118.75 pts (0.5%) | 23,474.35 |
Tech Sector
Technology stocks, heavyweights in the market, were among the heaviest weights and saw declines. Nvidia fell 1.2% and Broadcom fell 0.8%. Investor optimism around AI had driven the sector higher all year, but recent gains have cooled.
- Nvidia: 1.2% decline
- Broadcom: 0.8% decline
- AI focus: high valuations and growing investor skepticism
Energy & Commodities
Energy stocks gained as oil prices rose, with U.S. benchmark crude jumping 2.4% to $58.08 per barrel and Brent crude up 2.1% to $61.94. Exxon Mobil rose 1.2%. Gold and silver pulled back from recent gains after the Chicago Mercantile Exchange required more cash for positions; gold fell 4.6% but remains up about 64% for the year, while silver slumped 8.7% but has more than doubled overall in 2025.
- U.S. crude: +2.4% to $58.08
- Brent crude: +2.1% to $61.94
- Exxon Mobil: +1.2%
- Gold: -4.6% but +64% YTD
- Silver: -8.7% but >200% YTD
Bond Market
Treasury yields fell. The 10-year Treasury yield slipped to 4.11% from 4.13% late Friday. Yields have dropped significantly from the start of the year, partly due to expectations of rate cuts in 2025, and the Federal Reserve cut its benchmark rate three times later in the year amid stubborn inflation and a slowing job market.
International Markets
Markets outside the U.S. were mixed. Taiwan’s benchmark Taiex gained 0.9% even after China’s military announced drills around the self-governed island. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng gave up early gains, falling 0.7%.
Key Takeaways
- Year-end gains remain robust despite sector swings.
- Tech stocks face renewed skepticism after AI-driven rally.
- Energy gains are buoyed by rising oil prices.
As the year wraps up, the market’s mixed signals across sectors suggest that while gains remain robust, volatility may increase in the final trading days.
