The S&P 500 has added 20% or more for two-straight calendar years
The final trading day of 2024 was low-volume and uneventful, but there's plenty to unpack before putting a bow on the year. All three major indexes finished today's session lower, pivoting into the red midday despite a solid open. While the Dow's 5.3% December loss was its worst month of the year, the blue-chip index nabbed a quarterly win and added 12.9% in 2024.
The S&P 500 finished December lower but secured a quarterly win, while turning in a second-straight annual gain of 20% or more. The Nasdaq managed a win for the month and quarter, and finished the year 28.6% higher, with large cap tech stocks a driving force all year.
Continue reading for more on today's market, including:
- Natural gas ETF cools off from yesterday's melt up.
- Target this streaming stock next month.
- Plus, Buffett's latest buy; EQT's private equity bump; and SPX short interest rising.
5 Things to Know Today
- Home prices rose year-over-year in October. (Wall Street Journal)
- Hackers from China supposedly breached the U.S. treasury department. (Reuters)
- Berkshire Hathaway bets big on VeriSign stock.
- Can private equity fuel EQT tailwinds?
- What to make of S&P 500 short interest at record peaks.
There were no earnings of note today.
Gold Logs Best Year in 14 Years
Oil prices rose today, after U.S. crude oil inventories fell for a sixth consecutive week. Black gold marginally gained year-over-year. February-dated West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude gained 73 cents or 1.2%, to settle $71.72 per barrel.
Gold prices gained today, as the demand for safe-haven assets swells into 2025. Gold for January delivered added 0.8% to settle around $2,638.90 an ounce. For the year, gold gained over 26%, its best annual performance since 2010.