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

Gaza Ceasefire Commences After Delay, Hopes Rise for Peace and Hostage Release

 

After a tense delay, a long-awaited ceasefire between Israel and Hamas has finally come into effect in the Gaza Strip. The ceasefire, which was initially set to begin at 8:30 a.m. local time, was delayed by three hours due to disagreements over the release of hostages. The truce, which started at 11:15 a.m., aims to halt the ongoing violence and facilitate the gradual release of hostages held by Hamas.

The ceasefire deal, brokered by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt, is seen as a significant step towards ending the 15-month conflict that has resulted in the deaths of over 46,800 Palestinians and extensive destruction in Gaza. The agreement includes the release of 33 Israeli hostages in exchange for 1,904 Palestinian prisoners and detainees.

Despite the delay, celebrations erupted across Gaza as some Palestinians began returning to their homes. The ceasefire is expected to bring much-needed humanitarian aid to the war-torn region, with 600 trucks of aid set to enter Gaza daily.

The first phase of the ceasefire will see the release of three female hostages later on Sunday, with additional hostages expected to be freed in the coming days. The hope is that this ceasefire will pave the way for lasting peace and reconciliation in the region.



Comments