But major indexes like the S&P 500 have retreated since then. In recent trading, both the S&P 500 and Dow were on track for their worst start to a year since 2021. That year, the S&P 500 kicked things off with a 1.5% decline, while the Dow fell 1.3%, according to Dow Jones Market Data.

Indexes failed to hold onto early gains, with investors extending their losing streak to five days. Hope is fading for a Santa Claus rally to take shape.

Asian markets rose on Friday after U.S. stock indexes slipped as Wall Street’s weak end to last year carried into 2025. U.S. futures and oil prices rose. Japan's market is closed for the New Year holiday.

Stocks are skipping the ‘Santa Claus rally’ again this year. That doesn’t bode well for January. The Fed has two bad options in 2025: accept higher inflation or risk a recession. Natural-gas prices see biggest jump in nearly 3 years, leading oil higher.

Indexes rose Thursday to kick off the New Year after four straight days of losses. Tesla stock dropped more than 8% publishing delivery figures.

Stock indexes closed mostly lower on Wall Street on the final day of another record-setting year. The S&P 500 slipped 0.4% Tuesday, but still managed to rack up a gain of 23.3% for the year, its second straight year with gains of more than 20%.

Tesla slumped after it disclosed it delivered fewer vehicles in the last three months of 2024 than analysts expected. The electric-vehicle company’s stock fell 6.2%. Some Big Tech stocks, which have been leading Wall Street for most of the last few years,

U.S. stock indexes are starting 2025 with gains, putting Wall Street on track to break a four-day losing streak that dimmed the end of its stellar 2024. The S&P 500 rose 0.6% at the open of trading Thursday following its longest losing streak since early September.