Stocks will look to rebound from a sluggish start to the "Santa Claus" rally in the final trading days of 2024.

Some of the biggest winners were mega-cap tech stocks, with Tesla up by 6% while Broadcom, Netflix, and Amazon each gained about 2%.

Yes. The New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq will both operate on half-day schedules, closing at 1 p.m., while bond markets will shut down at 2 p.m., and major U.S. financial markets will stay closed until Thursday’s normal trading session.

Stocks have seen a stellar 2024, but the S&P 500 is in danger of a rare December loss. It’s all riding on the so-called Santa Claus rally.

"Stocks tend to do well in the absence of news and this is why strength around holidays tends to occur," Ryan Detrick said.

The Nasdaq Composite (NASDAQINDEX: ^IXIC) has advanced 34% year to date, and history says that momentum may carry into 2025. Since its inception in 1971, the Nasdaq has returned at least 20% in 20 years, and at least 30% in 12 years. After a 20%-plus gain in a calendar year: The Nasdaq has returned an average of 17% during the next year.

Stock indexes drifted to a mixed finish on Wall Street as some heavyweight technology and communications sector stocks offset gains elsewhere in the market.

The Dow closed slightly higher on Thursday while the Nasdaq and S&P 500 closed lower in the second day of a so-called Santa Claus rally period.

Stock indexes drifted to a mixed finish on Wall Street as some heavyweight technology and communications sector stocks offset gains elsewhere in the market. The S&P 500 slipped less than

Indexes fell in their first trading day after Christmas as traders hope for a so-called Santa Clause rally to propel markets higher into the new year.