The markets are higher out of the gate, with technology leaders including Nvidia and Oracle leading the way. Traders and investors are looking to Nvidia's earnings report after the bell alongside comments from CEO Jensen Huang to improve market sentiment, which has taken a hit of late, with the Nasdaq Composite clocking declines of 3% over the past month.
By the numbers: The S&P 500 climbed 15.7% between Trump's second inauguration day and last Friday, which marked the final trading day of his first year in office. It was up 24.1% during the first year of his prior term, and up 19.3% during Biden's first year. Obama outperformed them both with a 35.9% gain. Zoom in: Other indices were kinder to Trump 2.0, at least compared to his Democratic predecessors.
For many Americans, 2025 wasn't a great year financially. The affordability crisis and general economic concerns became defining themes of the year as people dealt with rising costs and a worsening job market. But for billionaires, 2025 was a boon to their already exuberant wealth. The 15 richest billionaires in the United States saw their wealth grow by more than $1 trillion over 2025, according to a new analysis from the Institute for Policy Studies, a Washington, D.C., think tank
The Dow Jones Industrial Average reached 46,441.10 on the first day of the shutdown. Since October 1, it has grown over 4%, reaching over 48,000 for the first time on Wednesday, November 12. While the record number came as the shutdown's end became a sure thing, the Dow had continued to rise throughout the period. The S&P 500 also followed a mostly upward trajectory throughout the shutdown. It opened at 6,664.92 on October 1 and closed at 6,850.92 on Wednesday.
