Stock market today: Dow, S&P 500, Nasdaq slip as Santa Claus rally stumbles amid Nvidia, Tesla slide

Market Performance - US stocks experienced a decline at the start of the final trading days of 2025, with the Nasdaq Composite falling 0.5%, and both the Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 dipping 0.5% and 0.3% respectively [1][2] - Despite the recent drop, all three major indexes are projected to end 2025 with significant gains, with the S&P 500 up over 17%, the Dow climbing over 14%, and the Nasdaq leading with an increase of over 21% [3] Precious Metals - The precious metals market saw increased volatility, with silver prices plummeting as much as 7% after previously rising above $80, while gold futures fell over 3% [2] Economic Indicators - A positive economic indicator emerged as pending home sales in November saw the largest increase since early 2023, suggesting a build-up of homebuyer momentum [4] - The upcoming release of the Federal Reserve's meeting minutes is anticipated to provide insights into the central bank's future actions, with a majority of traders expecting the Fed to maintain current interest rates in January [5]