Silver and Gold Prices Rally; Stocks Hold Near Records

Group 1: Precious Metals Market - Silver futures increased by 4.5% to approximately $75 per troy ounce, marking a significant rise of over 100% in price this year, attracting amateur investors [1] - Gold futures also reached record levels, peaking at $4,562 per troy ounce, driven by escalating geopolitical tensions which have bolstered its status as a haven asset [2] Group 2: U.S. Stock Market Performance - U.S. stock indexes experienced slight declines in thin trading, with the S&P 500 and Dow industrials closing at record highs after a five-session rise [3] - The period around the last five trading days of the year and the first two of the next is typically characterized by a "Santa Claus Rally," where stocks tend to rise [3] Group 3: Company-Specific Developments - Mining companies such as Southern Copper and Freeport-McMoRan saw stock price increases due to higher metal prices [4] - Nvidia's stock rose by 1.5% following the announcement of a licensing deal with semiconductor startup Groq [4] - Coupang's shares surged by 10% after a recent decline, despite a significant cybersecurity breach that led to customer information being leaked [4] Group 4: Other Market Influences - Biohaven's stock fell by 4% after an antidepressant drug candidate failed to meet its primary goal in a study [5] - The Japanese yen weakened against the dollar as Tokyo consumer prices rose more slowly than expected, although they remained above the Bank of Japan's target [5] - Japan's cabinet approved a record-high initial budget for the next fiscal year, indicating potential economic strategies moving forward [5]