Wall Street Rises Ahead of Holiday-Shortened Week/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ U.S. stocks opened higher Monday in a holiday-shortened trading week. Gains were led by tech and bank stocks, with gold and silver hitting record highs. Economic data releases later this week could influence market direction heading into the new year.
Stock Market Holiday Gains – Quick Looks
- S&P 500 rose 0.4%, nearing record territory
- Dow Jones climbed 130 points in early trading
- Nasdaq up 0.6%, led by tech and AI stocks
- Nvidia (+1.2%) and JPMorgan Chase (+1%) posted solid gains
- Uber (+3.3%) and Lyft (+5%) surged on robotaxi plans for London
- Gold hit record highs at $4,458/oz; silver jumped 2.5%
- U.S. crude oil rose 2.4%, Brent crude up 2.3%
- Asia markets up; Europe saw minor losses
- U.S. markets close early Wednesday, closed Thursday for Christmas
- Economic reports on GDP, jobless claims, and consumer confidence due this week
Deep Look
Wall Street Starts Christmas Week with Gains, Tech and Commodities Lead Rally
NEW YORK — U.S. stocks kicked off the Christmas holiday week with a modest rally Monday morning, as investors welcomed broad gains across technology, financials, and commodities. With lighter trading volume expected due to the shortened schedule, markets showed resilience following a choppy start to December.
The S&P 500 rose by 0.4%, sitting just shy of its all-time high reached earlier this month. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 130 points, or 0.3%, while the Nasdaq Composite outperformed with a 0.6% increase, lifted by strong showings in technology and artificial intelligence stocks.
Tech, Banks, and Robotaxis Drive Market Optimism
Among early leaders, Nvidia climbed 1.2%, continuing its momentum as a key player in the AI-driven rally of 2025. Financials also participated in the upswing, with JPMorgan Chase rising 1% as investors rotated into cyclical sectors.
Uber and Lyft made headlines — and stock gains — after announcing a joint initiative to launch robotaxi services in London by 2026. The news pushed Uber shares up 3.3% and Lyft up 5%, suggesting investor enthusiasm about the expanding role of autonomous vehicles in global transport networks.
Gold and Silver Surge to Records, Oil Rallies on Supply Concerns
Commodity markets saw sharp movements, with gold prices jumping 1.6% to reach an all-time high of $4,458 per ounce. Silver followed suit with a 2.5% rise, continuing a year-long climb amid inflation concerns and geopolitical instability.
Crude oil also rallied on Monday, with U.S. crude up 2.4% and Brent crude gaining 2.3%. The spike followed news that the U.S. Coast Guard is pursuing a sanctioned oil tanker in the Caribbean, heightening tensions over global oil supply routes.
Quiet Week Ahead, But Key Economic Data Looms
Despite the subdued trading atmosphere typical of the holidays, the remainder of the week will feature several important economic reports:
- Tuesday: The first estimate of Q3 GDP will be released by the Commerce Department, offering insight into the broader health of the U.S. economy.
- Also Tuesday: The Conference Board’s December consumer confidence index will gauge sentiment heading into 2026.
- Wednesday: The Labor Department’s weekly jobless claims report will offer a fresh look at the state of the U.S. labor market.
Global Markets Mixed as Investors Brace for 2026
Overseas, Asian markets finished in the green, buoyed by optimism about easing inflation in China and continued recovery in Japan. Meanwhile, European indices edged slightly lower, with investors digesting mixed signals about eurozone economic growth.
Trading Schedule for the Holidays
Wall Street will operate on a shortened schedule this week. Markets will:
- Close early on Wednesday, December 24 (Christmas Eve)
- Remain closed on Thursday, December 25 (Christmas Day)
Friday will resume regular trading hours, although volume is expected to remain light as investors prepare to wrap up the final week of the year.
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