On Thursday, December 26, U.S. markets closed mixed. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose slightly, marking its fifth straight gain despite light trading and higher Treasury yields. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq slipped, breaking recent streaks. Megacap tech stocks faced pressure, though Apple edged closer to a $4 trillion valuation. Seasonal trends and optimism around AI-driven profits continue to support year-end market hopes.

In economic data, U.S. initial jobless claims dropped by 1,000 in the second week of December, reaching 219,000, slightly below market expectations of 224,000.

S&P 500 sectors gained, led by healthcare, financial, and real estate stocks, while consumer discretionary and communication services declined.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 0.07% and closed at 43,325.80, the S&P 500 closed lower by 0.04% at 6,037.59, and the Nasdaq Composite fell 0.05% to finish at 20,020.36.

Asia Markets Today

Eurozone at 06:00 AM ET

• The European STOXX 50 was up 0.56%.
• Germany’s DAX rose 0.38%.
• France’s CAC gained 0.56%.
• U.K.’s FTSE 100 was trading higher by 0.08%.

Commodities at 06:00 AM ET

U.S. Futures at 06:00 AM ET

Dow futures were down 0.31%, S&P 500 futures declined 0.36%, and Nasdaq 100 futures slid 0.38%.

Forex at 06:00 AM ET

• The U.S. Dollar Index was down 0.06% to 108.07, USD/JPY fell 0.16% to 157.75, and USD/AUD rose 0.19% to 1.6101.
• The U.S. dollar is set for a 7% annual gain, driven by strong growth and cautious Federal Reserve rate cuts, while the yen and euro weakened amid diverging global monetary policies.

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