Stock Market Today: Live Updates on Index Movements, Gains, and Losses

Stock futures showed little movement on Wednesday following the S&P 500’s record-setting close. Dow Jones Industrial Average futures declined by 14 points, while S&P 500 and Nasdaq-100 futures hovered near the flatline.

U.S. markets extended their upward streak to a fourth consecutive session on Tuesday. Gains were driven by major tech companies like Alphabet, Nvidia, Broadcom, and Amazon, pushing indices higher.

The S&P 500 ended the regular trading session up 0.5%, setting a new closing high at 6,909.79, just shy of its intraday peak of 6,920.34. Meanwhile, the Nasdaq Composite rose about 0.6%, and the Dow Jones gained nearly 79 points, or 0.2%.

On Tuesday, the Commerce Department reported a strong third-quarter GDP growth of 4.3%, outpacing the Dow Jones consensus forecast of 3.2%. Despite this robust economic data, futures markets still price in two interest rate cuts by the end of the year.

Investors are hopeful for the annual Santa Claus rally, a period between December 24 and January 5 characterized by a historical stock market surge. According to Adam Turnquist, chief technical strategist at LPL Financial, the S&P 500 typically returns 1.3% during this period, with positive results 78% of the time.

Turnquist emphasized, “Momentum heading into year-end suggests a favorable setup for a positive Santa Claus Rally — a historically bullish signal for January and the year ahead.” He noted ongoing sector rotation toward cyclical industries as supportive of further gains.

Market breadth remains somewhat narrow despite record highs, but a close above the S&P 500’s December peak could catalyze an advance beyond the 7,000-point milestone. Traders will monitor upcoming economic data, especially weekly jobless claims, as the market navigates the holiday-shortened week.

The New York Stock Exchange will close early at 1 p.m. ET on Christmas Eve and remain closed on Christmas Day, potentially impacting trading volumes. Investors are adapting to these schedule changes while remaining focused on year-end market trends.