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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.

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Stock Market Today: US Futures Edge Higher as Walmart Surges with Retail Sales, Jobs Data Ahead


Stock futures nudged higher Thursday as Wall Street looked to two key signals of US consumer health, as well as more insight on the jobs market. Here are the highlights:

  1. Futures Performance:

    • Futures tied to the S&P 500 (ES=F) and the tech-heavy Nasdaq (NQ=F) rose 0.1%.
    • Dow Jones Industrial Average futures (YM=F) pointed up 0.2%.
  2. Walmart’s Strong Quarter:

    • Retail giant Walmart (WMT) shares surged nearly 6% after a largely positive earnings report.
    • Walmart posted both earnings and revenue beats and raised its full-year outlook.
  3. Retail Sales Data:

    • Monthly government retail sales data is set for release at 8:30 a.m. ET.
    • Economists expect a 0.3% month-over-month increase in July, an improvement from June’s flat reading.
  4. Jobs Market Update:

    • The weekly jobless claims report is also in focus.
    • Last week, claims fell more than forecast, sparking a market surge.
  5. Market Resilience:

    • Stocks have rebounded in August, with the S&P 500 recouping most of its losses from the earlier sell-off.
    • As inflation eases, the jobs market remains a key focus for the Fed.

Wall Street continues to monitor these indicators closely, shaping market sentiment and investor confidence.


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