Traders were busy on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange on December 15, 2025.
Stocks dipped on Monday following a significant rise in the S&P 500 last week, largely due to declines in technology stocks. The S&P 500 fell by 0.35%, ending the day at 6,905.74. The Nasdaq Composite dropped by 0.50%, closing at 23,474.35, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 249.04 points (0.51%), wrapping up at 48,461.93.
During this session, shares related to artificial intelligence faced some challenges. For instance, Nvidia saw a decline of more than 1%, pulling back from a substantial gain of over 5% the previous week. Other companies like Palantir Technologies and Meta Platforms also reported losses, along with Oracle.
Chris Larkin, who oversees trading and investments at Morgan Stanley’s E-Trade, mentioned that given the relatively quiet economic calendar this week, the focus might turn to internal market momentum. He added that if the market is to achieve double-digit growth by the end of the year, the tech sector will probably have to take on a significant role.
Meanwhile, silver experienced a notable spike, reaching $80 an ounce before dropping over 6%. This follows a remarkable surge this year, with prices rising almost 150%, making it a popular trading choice. The iShares Silver Trust (SLV) saw a decrease of about 7% as well.
These market shifts followed an intraday high of 6,945.77 for the S&P 500 on Friday, which ultimately closed just below breakeven. It’s been an impressive year for Wall Street overall, with the S&P 500 up more than 17% in 2025. The Dow Jones Industrial Average has increased about 14%, projected to have its strongest year since 2021, while the Nasdaq Composite has led the way with a gain exceeding 21%.
Wall Street is currently experiencing the Santa Claus Rally, typically a robust period for the markets. Historical data shows that since 1950, the S&P 500 has averaged over a 1% gain during the last five business days of the year and the first two days of the following year.
This week doesn’t have much economic data, but investors will be keen to understand more about the Federal Reserve’s outlook as they approach 2026. The minutes from the central bank’s December meeting are set to be released on Tuesday at 2 PM ET.
