Skip to main content

Featured

Wall Street Holds Steady as S&P 500 Hits Record Ahead of Christmas Break

Market Snapshot – December 24, 2025 Dow Jones Futures: Flat at 48,735 points S&P 500 Futures: Near 6,957 points, little changed after Tuesday’s record close Nasdaq 100 Futures: Slight dip of 0.1% to 25,796.5 points S&P 500 Index: Closed Tuesday at 6,909, its latest all-time high Key Drivers Robust economic growth continues to fuel investor optimism. Seasonal “Santa Claus rally” has lifted stocks for four consecutive sessions. Markets will close early today at 1 p.m. EST and remain shut tomorrow for Christmas Day. Traders remain cautious about inflation and potential Federal Reserve rate cuts in 2026. Quick Take Wall Street enters the holiday season on a high note, with the S&P 500 near the 7,000 mark and futures showing little movement. The shortened trading session means liquidity will be thin, amplifying small moves. Still, the overall tone remains upbeat, with investors betting that the year-end rally will carry into the final days of 2025.

article

Banana Bread with Coconut and Pecans

 

Ingredients

  • 1¾ cups all-purpose flour
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1½ teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 stick (½ cup) unsalted butter, melted
  • ¾ cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 cup very ripe bananas, mashed (about 3 bananas)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ cup shredded unsweetened coconut
  • ½ cup pecans, toasted and chopped

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, and baking powder.
  3. In the bowl of an electric mixer, mix the melted butter and sugar until just combined. Beat in the eggs, bananas, and vanilla.
  4. Add the flour mixture to the bowl and mix on low speed until just combined. Do not over-mix.
  5. Gently stir in the coconut and pecans.
  6. Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and bake for 50-55 minutes, until a tester inserted into the center comes out relatively clean.
  7. Let the loaf cool in the pan for about ten minutes, then turn out onto a rack to cool completely.

Enjoy your banana bread warm out of the oven or toasted for breakfast the next day!






Comments