Stock market today: Dow, S&P 500, Nasdaq notch solid weekly gains to begin 'Santa Claus rally' period

Market Performance - US stocks showed little change on Friday but achieved weekly gains ahead of the final trading week of the year [1] - The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell slightly below its record close from Wednesday, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite dipped below the flat line during thin post-Christmas trading [1] - All three major indexes recorded gains of over 1% during the shortened holiday trading week [1] Precious Metals - Precious metals, particularly gold and silver, experienced a significant rally, reaching new records due to geopolitical tensions and a weakening dollar [2] Year-End Trends - The S&P 500 and Dow reached record highs during the Christmas Eve session, marking their fifth consecutive victory as Wall Street entered the Santa Claus rally period [3] - The S&P 500 is up nearly 18% year-to-date, on track for its sixth year of over 15% gains in the last seven years [4] - The Nasdaq has outperformed with over a 20% rise in 2025, despite a brief bear market following tariff impositions by President Trump [4] Interest Rate Expectations - Stocks have continued to rise despite diminishing expectations for interest rate cuts from the Federal Reserve next year, with traders estimating less than 15% odds of a cut next month [5] - There is uncertainty regarding the Federal Reserve's actions in March, with no major economic data or earnings results expected to conclude the holiday-shortened week [5]