Stock Market Summary: US Markets Steady as Precious Metals Soar to New Heights

Market Overview

On December 26, 2025, US stocks displayed minimal movement in a post-Christmas trading session, managing to secure modest weekly gains. All three major indices — the Dow Jones Industrial Average, the S&P 500, and the Nasdaq Composite — drifted slightly lower, indicative of a typical market lull during the holiday season.

The Dow (^DJI) declined just beneath its record high and finished the day down 19.95 points, or 0.04%. Similarly, the S&P 500 (^GSPC) fell by 2.05 points, marking a decrease of just 0.03%, while the tech-driven Nasdaq (^IXIC) slipped by a marginal 0.1%.

Weekly Gains Persist

This short week, following the Christmas holiday, saw all major averages notching over 1% gains. The market is currently within the historically favorable Santa Claus rally period, characterized by a rise in stock prices during the last five trading sessions of the year and the first two of the next.

The S&P 500 has surged nearly 18% throughout 2025, maintaining a trajectory towards its sixth year of 15%-plus gains in the past seven years. The Nasdaq has shown remarkable gains of over 20% this year, rebounding from a dip into bear market territory earlier this year due to tariff implications from the Trump administration.

Precious Metals Rally

In stark contrast to the equity markets, precious metals experienced a spectacular rally. Gold (^GC=F) and silver (^SI=F) both hit fresh all-time highs on Friday, driven by geopolitical tensions and a weakening dollar. Gold prices hovered around $4,555 per ounce, while silver surpassed $76 per ounce, marking gains of roughly 162% and 74% respectively for the year.

Nvidia’s Strategic Move

In corporate news, Nvidia (NVDA) stock gained over 1% following the announcement of a monumental $20 billion licensing deal with AI chip startup Groq, signaling its intent to solidify its dominance in the artificial intelligence sector.

This deal is particularly noteworthy as it empowers Nvidia’s AI undertakings, positioning the company competitively against rivals like Google, which is known for its tensor processing units (TPUs).

Market Sentiment and Future Outlook

Despite the recent steadiness of stock prices, analysts are observing a decline in expectations for a Federal Reserve interest rate cut in the near future, anticipating less than 15% odds for such action in January. Economic indicators remain mixed, but no major data releases are scheduled for the coming week.

As investor sentiment hangs delicately, concerns linger over a potential slowdown in job growth, which could impact economic projections moving into 2026.