Stock Market News·2025-12-29 14:07Market Overview - U.S. stock futures are indicating a cautious tone as investors begin the final trading week of 2025, with a slight pullback expected, particularly in the tech sector due to profit-taking [1][2] - The S&P 500 Index futures are down approximately 0.13% to 0.3%, while Nasdaq 100 futures show a decline of around 0.18% to 0.5% [2] - The Dow Jones Industrial Average futures are relatively flat, with a slight dip of 0.11% or a marginal gain of 0.01% in some readings [2] Year-End Performance - The S&P 500 has gained 17.7% year-to-date, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average has increased by 14.5%, marking its best annual performance since 2021 [4] - The Nasdaq Composite has surged 22.2% in 2025, driven by optimism surrounding AI advancements and deregulatory policies [4] Upcoming Economic Events - The release of the Federal Reserve's December meeting minutes on Wednesday is a key event, as investors seek insights into the Fed's monetary policy trajectory, particularly regarding potential interest rate cuts in 2026 [5] - Market expectations currently lean towards two 0.25% rate cuts next year, with the first possibly occurring as early as March [5] Corporate Earnings - The week is quiet for corporate earnings, with smaller companies like iHuman and OBOOK Holdings expected to report quarterly results [7] - Baker Hughes has announced its Q4 and full-year 2025 earnings release for January 25, 2026 [7] Major Stock Movements - Nvidia shares are experiencing a pullback of around 1.1% to 1.3% despite licensing its AI chip technology from startup Groq and taking a $5 billion stake in Intel [8][9] - Tesla stock is down approximately 1.3% to 1.4% after reaching a record high last week [14] - DigitalBridge Group is a standout gainer, surging over 10% following reports of a potential acquisition by SoftBank [14] - Target Corporation shares rose 3.1% after news of a significant stake acquisition by hedge fund Toms Capital Investment Management [14] - Coupang, Inc. shares climbed 6.5% after resolving a recent cyber issue with minimal impact [14] - American Airlines Group Inc. shares fell 1.5% due to concerns over potential flight disruptions from a winter storm [14] Commodities and Cryptocurrency - Precious metals are retreating, with gold futures declining around 1.6% to 1.7% to approximately $4,475-$4,480 an ounce, and silver futures dropping over 2.5% to 3% to around $74.65-$75.25 an ounce [10] - WTI crude oil futures are trending higher, surging around 2.5% to $58.20 per barrel amid U.S.-Venezuela tensions [10] - Bitcoin is trading around $87,300, down from an overnight high of roughly $90,300 [11]