Stock Market Today: Futures Dip as “Santa Claus Rally” Nears Year-End Peak Amid Key Fed Outlook

Market Overview - U.S. stock markets are experiencing a positive sentiment as they approach the end of 2025, supported by a "Santa Claus rally" and strong year-to-date gains across major indexes [1][6] - Major indexes have shown double-digit gains in 2025, with the S&P 500 up 17.7%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average up 14.5%, and the Nasdaq Composite up 22.2% [4][5] Premarket Trading and Futures Movements - U.S. stock futures are mixed, with Nasdaq 100 futures down 0.18%, Dow Jones futures down 0.11%, and S&P 500 futures down 0.13% as of early Monday [2] - The S&P 500 reached an intraday record high of 6,945.77 before closing nearly flat [2] Economic Indicators - The U.S. 10-year Treasury yield is slightly down at approximately 4.11%, while WTI crude oil futures are trending higher near $61.5 per barrel [3] - Gold Spot price has decreased to around $4,464 per ounce [3] Upcoming Economic Events - Key upcoming events include the release of the Federal Reserve's December meeting minutes, which may provide insights into future monetary policy [7] - The U.S. Pending Home Sales for November and the Dallas Fed Manufacturing Index are also anticipated to influence market sentiment [8] Major Stock News - Nvidia (NVDA) has gained after announcing a licensing deal with AI startup Groq, reflecting strong demand for AI chip stocks [13] - Target (TGT) saw an increase following reports of a significant stake acquisition by hedge fund Toms Capital Investment Management [13] - Precious metals prices have reached record highs, positively impacting U.S.-listed miners such as First Majestic and Coeur Mining [13] - Bitcoin (BTC) has climbed above $90,000, indicating a potential breakout [13] - Timex Group India plans to sell an 8.93% stake via an offer-for-sale for Rs 2,480 crore [13]