Wall Street Flat While Gold and Silver Climb/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ As 2025 comes to a close, U.S. stock markets remained mostly flat Tuesday, while gold and silver rebounded sharply after recent losses. Thin trading volumes reflect year-end positioning, with most major investors already sidelined. Commodities took the spotlight as silver jumped 7% and gold climbed 1%, amid ongoing supply concerns and economic uncertainty.
Year-End Market Movement Quick Looks
- S&P 500 and Nasdaq little changed in morning trading
- Dow slips 43 points as tech sector weighs
- Nvidia down, Meta Platforms up 1.9%
- Gold gains 1%, silver surges 7% after prior drop
- Copper up 2.7%, climbs over 40% in 2025
- Crude oil prices rise slightly, remain steady
- Treasury yields edge higher as markets eye 2026
- Trading volumes light with just two days left in year
Deep Look
Stocks Stay Flat While Gold and Silver Jump as 2025 Wraps Up
NEW YORK — December 30, 2025 — Wall Street remained largely unchanged Tuesday morning as the final days of 2025 tick down, while precious metals rebounded strongly following a brief dip earlier in the week.
The S&P 500 was mostly flat, still poised to finish the year with an impressive gain of over 17%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped by 43 points, or 0.1%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq hovered near the flatline.
Technology stocks, which have led the market in 2025, showed mixed performance. Nvidia slipped 0.3%, while Meta Platforms — parent company of Facebook — rose 1.9%. Both companies hold significant weight in major indexes, so their movements have an outsized influence on broader market trends.
Thin Trading Ahead of New Year
With only two trading sessions remaining before markets close for New Year’s Day, investor activity has slowed considerably. Many institutional players have already wrapped up their year-end strategies, leaving lower volume and subdued stock movements.
U.S. markets will be closed Thursday in observance of New Year’s Day, further contributing to light trading conditions.
Commodities Take the Spotlight
While equities held steady, commodities made a strong comeback following Monday’s sell-off. Gold prices rose 1%, and silver posted an impressive 7% gain, bouncing back after the Chicago Mercantile Exchange raised margin requirements for trading precious metals earlier in the week. That move briefly triggered a sharp decline before prices rebounded on renewed buying interest.
Both gold and silver have surged throughout 2025, driven by a mix of geopolitical tensions, inflation concerns, and tight supply chains. The strong gains signal investors continue to see precious metals as a hedge against broader market risk.
Copper Continues Its 2025 Climb
Copper, a key industrial metal, added 2.7% Tuesday, extending its remarkable rally. For the year, copper is now up more than 40%, boosted by strong global demand.
The metal’s critical role in power grids and renewable energy systems — especially amid rising energy demands from artificial intelligence and data centers — has helped push prices higher. As AI infrastructure expands, so does the need for efficient energy transfer, keeping copper in high demand.
Oil Holds Steady
Crude oil prices were relatively unchanged. U.S. benchmark crude rose 0.5%, while Brent crude, the global standard, edged up 0.3%. Oil markets have remained steady despite concerns over global economic growth and regional tensions.
Bond Yields Tick Higher
In the bond market, Treasury yields inched up. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.14%, from 4.11% late Monday, while the two-year yield — often more sensitive to interest rate expectations — moved to 3.47% from 3.46%.
Investors continue to watch for signs of how the Federal Reserve may proceed in 2026. With inflation showing signs of cooling but not yet fully subdued, market participants are cautiously preparing for the next interest rate cycle.
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