Happy Wednesday! As of December 24, 2025, the U.S. stock market closed early in observance of Christmas Eve, bringing a positive end to the trading day. The major indexes continued their upward momentum, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average leading the pack, gaining 0.6%. This marks another record close, finishing the day at 48,731.16 points.
The S&P 500 also set a record, closing at 6,932.05, up 0.32%. This was a notable achievement as it was the first Christmas Eve record for the index since 2013. The Nasdaq Composite added 0.22% to end the day positively, while the Russell 2000 showed a slight rebound, increasing by 0.20% after some declines the previous day.
Among the standout stocks today, Edgewise Therapeutics surged by 25.2% following the successful completion of a phase two trial for its heart disease drug. Other notable gainers included Travere Therapeutics (+13.9%) and UiPath (+7.5%), indicating strong performance from the healthcare and technology sectors. Conversely, some retail stocks saw declines, with AST SpaceMobile dropping 8.6% and Hycroft Mining falling 8% alongside D-Wave Quantum which declined by 5.5%.
Today's trading session reflected broader economic trends despite its holiday brevity. Jobless claims showed a slight decline, with initial claims falling by 10,000 to 214,000 for the week ending December 20. Analysts are observing a divide in economic performance; while GDP growth for Q3 stood at a robust 4.3%, consumer confidence remains shaky, leading to a bifurcated recovery affecting low and middle-income households more adversely.
As the market moves closer to the end of the year, many analysts are optimistic about a 'Santa Claus' rally, typically seen in the final days of December and early January. Adam Turnquist, LPL chief technical strategist, noted that the recent momentum could signal a positive outlook. He highlighted that the recent gains were backed by increased inflows into economically sensitive sectors such as financials and industrials.
PRECIOUS METALS have had a remarkable year, with gold reaching over $4,500 per ounce on Wednesday, although it later parred some gains. Silver also reflected a strong performance. Despite concerns about inflation and valuations, consumer spending remained resilient overall, with a slight increase noted in credit and debit card use, indicating robust holiday shopping activity.
The markets will be closed tomorrow in observance of Christmas Day but will reopen on Friday, December 26. Investors are expected to keep an eye on key economic indicators and market responses in the New Year as the Federal Reserve considers rate adjustments amidst ongoing economic developments.