S&P 500 Secures Fresh Record Close Before Christmas

By Fernanda Horner | December 24, 2025, 1:24 PM

The S&P 500 marked another record close before Christmas, notching its fifth-straight daily gain alongside the Dow and Nasdaq. Nike (NKE) enjoyed outsized gains today after reports that Apple (AAPL) CEO Tim Cook bought nearly $3 million in shares, while tech stocks also rallied. Meanwhile, the Cboe Volatility Index (VIX) marked its fifth-straight daily loss and settled below 14 for the first time in a year. As a reminder, markets will be closed tomorrow to observe Christmas Day.

Continue reading for more on today's market, including:

  • Buyout buzz sends biopharmaceutical stock soaring. 
  • AST SpaceMobile stock brushes off satellite launch.
  • Plus, a surging software stock; the worst Dow stock of 2025; and putting the Dow Theory to the test.

Summary 1224

NYSE Nasdaq 1224

5 Things to Know Today

  1. Infrastructure stocks were the biggest benefiters of AI trade this year. (CNBC)
  2. Intel (INTC) stock suffered after Nvidia (NVDA) abandoned plans to use its 18A chip production process. (Barron's)
  3. Software stock surges on promotion to S&P MidCap 400.
  4. UnitedHealth stock left a lot to be desired in 2025.
  5. Can investors really trust the Dow Theory?
There were no earnings of note today.
 
There is no options volume data today.

Gold Extends Record Highs; Oil Snaps Win Streak

Oil prices snapped their five-day win streak on Wednesday, taking a breather from recent gains fueled by U.S. economic growth and risks of supply disruptions tied to Russia and Venezuela. January-dated West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude shed 5 cents, or 0.1%, to close at $58.33 per barrel. 

Gold and silver prices notched even more record highs, with the latter also breaking above $4,500 for the first time, as interest rate cut hopes in the new year continued to fuel optimism. February-dated gold added 0.4% to close at $4,523.10 per ounce.

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