Ending 2025
The US stock market ended 2025 with strong gains, as investors prepared for New Year’s Eve trading. The S&P 500 rose 17% over the year, the Nasdaq climbed 21%, and the Dow Jones gained 14%. Traders are watching closely for market movements ahead of 2026 and anticipating key Federal Reserve decisions and corporate earnings.
Market hours
The New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq are open on December 31, 2025, operating on regular hours. Trading will start at 9:30 a.m. ET and end at 4:00 p.m. ET. Over-the-counter markets will also remain open during the day. US bond markets will close early at 2:00 p.m. ET. This gives bond investors a shorter trading window. Stock investors, however, can trade for the full day.
Markets closed for January 1
All US financial markets will remain closed on January 1, 2026, in observance of the federal holiday. Stock and bond trading will resume on January 2, 2026, at the usual hours. Investors will return to monitor economic indicators, corporate earnings, and Federal Reserve policies that could shape the market in 2026.
From 2025 to 2026
Despite a small dip on December 31, 2025, the market showed strong performance. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq fell about 0.3% each, and the Dow dropped around 144 points. Still, all three indices ended the year with double-digit gains. The market faced challenges earlier in the year, including tariffs and policy uncertainty, but recovered steadily. Analysts are now looking at the start of 2026 with cautious optimism. They expect the Federal Reserve’s interest rate decisions and corporate earnings to guide market trends in the new year. Investors are also paying attention to potential risks, including economic changes and global developments.
