Tech Helps Stocks Start Christmas Week Strong

Stocks finished strong today, with the Dow coming off a triple-digit loss at its session lows to add 66 points by the close. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq both logged solid gains, the latter getting a bump from tech titan Nvidia (NVDA). Wall Street shrugged off two lackluster data sets today; consumer sentiment fell in December below estimates to its lowest level since September, while durable goods fell in November.  

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

• Buy the dip on this defense stock.
• Honda stock pops on merger news.
• Plus, AMD calls pop; a look at the auto sector; and a shakeup in sleep apnea.

5 Things to Know Today 

1. Retailer Nordstrom (JWN) is going private. (CNBC)
2. Catastrophe-bond issuance hit a record high in 2024. (Bloomberg)
3. AMD call traders unfazed by recent pullback. 
4. How did auto stocks react to the Honda-Nissan news?
5. Eli Lilly's good news trips up sleep apnea stock. 

There were no earnings of note today.

Commodities Cool as Christmas Approaches

Oil prices fell today, weighed down by recent demand pressures. February-dated West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude shed 22 cents, or 0.3%, to settle $69.24 per barrel.

A strong dollar and elevated bond yields made gold for December delivery fell today, losing 0.6% to settle at $2,628.20 an ounce.