The U.S. stock market is closed today, Thursday, December 25, 2025, in observance of the Christmas Day holiday, providing a pause after a robust, record-setting session on Christmas Eve. Both the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and Nasdaq will remain fully shut, with normal trading operations set to resume on Friday, December 26, 2025. This holiday closure follows a shortened trading day on Wednesday, December 24, when major indexes closed higher, with the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average reaching new all-time closing highs.
Market Performance on Christmas Eve (December 24, 2025)
On Wednesday, December 24, Wall Street experienced a "Santa Claus Rally" as investors celebrated a year marked by economic resilience and the transformative impact of artificial intelligence. The S&P 500 (^SPX) climbed 0.3% to close at 6,932.05, establishing a new all-time closing record. The benchmark index also touched a fresh intraday high of 6,921.44 during the shortened session, which concluded at 1:00 PM ET.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) also had a strong showing, rising 0.6% to finish at 48,731.16, marking another new closing high. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) edged up 0.2% to 23,613.31, largely propelled by the strong performance of companies in the artificial intelligence sector. The Russell 2000 (^RUT) index of smaller companies also saw gains, rising 0.3% to 2,548.08.
This upward momentum was fueled by several positive economic data points released earlier in the week, including a revised Q3 GDP growth rate of 4.3% and cooling labor cost figures, which reinforced the narrative of a successful "soft landing" for the economy. Additionally, falling unemployment claims last week further indicated a healthy labor market. The Federal Reserve's strategic pivot earlier in the year, including three consecutive 25-basis-point interest rate cuts, has also provided liquidity, supporting market valuations.
Major Corporate News and Stock Movements
Several companies made headlines on Christmas Eve:
- Dynavax Technologies (DVAX) saw its shares soar after French pharmaceutical company Sanofi (SNY) announced its intent to acquire the vaccine maker.
- Nike (NKE) was a top performer in the S&P 500 and Dow, with its stock rising 4.6% after a regulatory filing revealed Apple (AAPL) CEO Tim Cook purchased nearly $3 million worth of shares.
- AI chip giant Nvidia (NVDA) shares ended down 0.3% following reports that the company had paused testing an Intel (INTC) production process for advanced semiconductors. Intel shares also fell 0.5%.
- Novo Nordisk (NVO) climbed 7.3% after the U.S. FDA approved its GLP-1 pill for the treatment of overweight or obesity.
- Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) shares rose 0.3% following news of the U.S. government's plans for a new class of battleships.
- ServiceNow (NOW) shares fell 1.5% after the company announced its decision to acquire cybersecurity startup Armis for $7.75 billion in cash.
- ZIM Integrated Shipping Services (ZIM) surged 5.8% amid news that its board is evaluating several potential acquisitions.
- Oil giant BP (BP) agreed to sell a 65% stake in its Castrol lubricants business to investment firm Stonepeak for approximately $6 billion.
- Micron Technology (MU) is closely watched ahead of its fiscal Q1 2026 earnings report, with analysts anticipating significant growth driven by demand from AI infrastructure.
Upcoming Market Events and Outlook
With markets closed for Christmas Day, investors will be looking ahead to Friday, December 26, when trading resumes for a full session. The "Santa Claus Rally" period, defined as the last five trading days of the year and the first two of the new year, is often a bullish indicator, and many analysts expect this positive momentum to carry into 2026.
Looking further ahead, the U.S. stock markets will also be closed on Wednesday, January 1, 2026, for New Year's Day, and on Monday, January 19, 2026, for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Investors will continue to monitor economic data and any further statements from the Federal Reserve regarding interest rate policy, with expectations for additional rate cuts in the new year. Zacks Investment Research is also scheduled to release its "Top 10 Stocks for 2026" on January 5.
The year 2025 has been remarkable, with the S&P 500 gaining more than 17% year-to-date, marking the third consecutive year of double-digit gains. This performance underscores the strength of the U.S. consumer and significant capital expenditures flowing into next-generation technology, particularly in the AI sector. As the year draws to a close, the market's trajectory suggests a bullish tailwind that many believe will persist into the new year.
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.