The U.S. stock market is drifting lower following mixed data on the economy’s strength. The S&P 500 fell 0.4% Tuesday and remains a bit below its all-time high set last week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 271 points, and the Nasdaq composite was mostly unchanged. Treasury yields eased a bit after the reports on the U.S. job market, retail sales and business activity did little to clear uncertainty about where the Federal Reserve may take interest rates next year. AI stocks, which have been under heavy pressure recently, were mixed. Stock indexes fell across much of Europe and Asia.
Many U.S. consumers say they’ve noticed higher than usual prices for holiday gifts in recent months, according to a a December poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. A contributing factor is the unusually high import taxes the Trump administration put on foreign goods. While the worst-case consumer impact that many economists foresaw from the administration’s trade policies hasn’t materialized, some popular gift items have been affected more than others. Most toys and electronics sold in the U.S. come from China. So do most holiday decorations. Jewelry prices have risen due to the cost of gold.
A sell-off for Oracle is weighing on Wall Street as investors question whether its big spending on artificial-intelligence technology will pay off. The S&P 500 was mostly unchanged Thursday and hovering around its all-time high set in October. Drops for AI-related stocks dragged the Nasdaq composite down 0.6%. Oracle at one point was heading toward its worst loss since 2001 on worries about how much it plans to spend on AI infrastructure. But most stocks on Wall Street rose, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 600 points. Treasury yields slipped after a report showed more U.S. workers applied for unemployment benefits.
U.S. stock indexes are drifting higher ahead of a highly anticipated report about how the U.S. job market is holding up amid uncertainty about President Donald Trump’s tariffs.
U.S. stocks are rising, and oil prices are tumbling on growing hopes that Iran will not disrupt the global flow of crude following the United States’ entry into its war with Israel.
Amid this year’s market turmoil,I’ve heard investors wonder if they should hit pause on 401(k) contributions until things settle down. Though this approach sounds tempting, it’s better to stick with your investment strategy instead of waiting for conditions to improve.
US stocks are drifting just below their all-time high as the wait continues to hear what will come of trade talks underway between the United States and China.
U.S. stocks drifted higher and pulled closer to their record as the wait continues for more updates on President Donald Trump’s tariffs and how much they’re affecting the economy.
