The U.S. stock market is closed today, Thursday, November 27, 2025, in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday. This pause comes after a robust midweek performance where major indexes extended their winning streak, fueled by growing optimism for a Federal Reserve interest rate cut in December and strong showings from the technology sector. Markets are set to resume trading with a shortened session on Friday, November 28, closing early at 1:00 PM ET.
Market Indexes Performance
Before the Thanksgiving break, U.S. benchmark indices posted solid gains on Wednesday, November 26, 2025. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.67%, adding 314.67 points to close at 47,427.12. The S&P 500 advanced 0.69%, or 46.73 points, settling at 6,812.61. Leading the charge, the Nasdaq Composite increased by 0.82%, gaining 189.10 points to reach 23,214.69. This midweek rally marked a continuation of positive momentum, driven significantly by expectations of monetary policy easing and robust performance in key growth sectors.
The market's upward trajectory was largely attributed to increasing investor confidence that the Federal Reserve will implement a rate cut at its upcoming December meeting. Current market sentiment, according to data from CME Group and Reuters, indicates an 83% to 85% probability of a 25-basis-point reduction. This anticipation of dovish policy, combined with a strong showing in the technology sector and a notable surge in the cryptocurrency market, particularly Bitcoin (BTC-USD) which recently climbed to $91,500, contributed to the positive sentiment across equities.
Upcoming Market Events
While U.S. markets are closed today, the focus quickly shifts to Friday's abbreviated trading session and the broader outlook for December. On Friday, November 28, 2025, both the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and Nasdaq will operate on a shortened schedule, closing at 1:00 PM ET, with the U.S. bond market also closing early at 2:00 PM ET. No major economic reports are scheduled for release on Friday.
The most significant upcoming event remains the Federal Reserve's December 9-10 meeting, where a potential interest rate cut is widely expected. The Fed's "Beige Book" report, released on Wednesday, indicated little change in overall economic activity, with some districts noting softer employment and a decline in consumer spending, which could further support the case for easing monetary policy. Additionally, initial jobless claims for the week ending November 21 fell to 216,000, coming in below expectations, while September durable goods orders rose 0.5%, matching forecasts.
Looking further ahead, major financial institutions are projecting continued market strength. JPMorgan, for instance, forecasts the S&P 500 to reach 7,500 by the end of 2026, with a potential surge past 8,000 if the Federal Reserve implements more aggressive rate cuts. This optimistic outlook is underpinned by an anticipated 13% to 15% earnings growth for U.S. companies over the next two years.
Major Stock News
Several major public companies made headlines leading up to the holiday, reflecting both individual corporate developments and broader market trends.
In the technology sector, companies like Nvidia (NVDA) and Microsoft (MSFT) were key drivers of the midweek rally, with Nvidia rising 1.4% and Microsoft gaining 1.8% on Wednesday. Alphabet (GOOGL), the parent company of Google, saw its stock surge earlier in the week, reportedly by 6.3%, following enthusiasm surrounding its new Gemini AI model. However, it experienced a 1% dip on Wednesday. Dell Technologies (DELL) also performed strongly, closing up 5.83% on Wednesday. Oracle (ORCL) jumped 4% after Deutsche Bank reiterated a bullish view.
Beyond the tech giants, other notable movements included Teradyne Inc. (TER), which rose 6.98%, and Newmont Goldcorp Corp. (NEM), which gained 4.93% on Wednesday. Conversely, Deere & Company (DE) tumbled 5.7% following a downbeat forecast for the current year.
Corporate announcements on Thursday, November 27, also garnered attention. HP Inc. (HPQ) announced plans to cut between 4,000 and 6,000 jobs globally by 2028 as part of an initiative to streamline operations and integrate artificial intelligence into its product development. Japanese beverage giant Asahi Group Holdings Ltd. (2502.T) revealed that a cyber-attack in September potentially leaked personal information of over 1.5 million customers, impacting its earnings.
In international markets, Indian IT services firm Wipro (WIPRO) announced a strategic alliance with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and the Foundation for Science Innovation and Development (FSID) to advance research in agentic AI, embodied AI, quantum AI, and quantum-safe solutions. Additionally, IMPACT Silver Corp. (IPT.V) reported a 24% increase in Q3 2025 revenue, driven by substantially higher silver prices. Azad India Mobility (AZAD.NS) saw its share price surge after reporting a 240% jump in Profit After Tax (PAT) for Q2 FY26, attributed to rising demand for its electric mobility offerings. Japanese financial services group Nomura Holdings Inc. (8604.T) announced a new Scholarship Loan Program for junior employees in Japan, effective April 1, 2026, aimed at easing financial burdens and fostering career development.
As investors take a break for Thanksgiving, the underlying sentiment remains cautiously optimistic, with eyes set on the Federal Reserve's next moves and the continued performance of the technology sector in driving market trends into the end of the year and beyond.
Ed Liston is a senior contributing editor at TheStockMarketWatch.com. An active market watcher and investor, Ed guides an independent team of experienced analysts and writes for multiple stock trader publications.