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Dow Ends Lower as Stocks Stagger Into Year-End

AInvestWednesday, Jan 1, 2025 2:11 am ET
1min read


The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) closed lower on Tuesday, December 31, 2024, extending its late-year slump. The DJI fell 0.1%, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite dropped 0.4% and 0.9%, respectively, giving back early-session gains. Stocks capped off the year with three straight days of sizeable losses, sending the DJI to its worst monthly performance in more than two years, while the S&P 500 turned in its weakest showing since April.

Despite the sluggishness of the past few days, the major indexes posted hefty gains for the year, recording a series of all-time highs along the way. The Nasdaq Composite, which managed to eke out a gain for December, rose 29% in 2024, while the S&P 500 and DJI advanced 23% and 13%, respectively.

Large-cap technology stocks once again led the downturn on Tuesday. Tesla (TSLA) fell 3.3%, losing ground for the fourth straight day ahead of the scheduled release on Thursday of the company's fourth-quarter deliveries report. Shares of AI investor favorite Nvidia (NVDA) slipped 2.3%, while Apple (AAPL), Microsoft (MSFT), Alphabet (GOOGL), Amazon (AMZN), Meta Platforms (META), and Broadcom (AVGO) also retreated.

Shares of software maker MicroStrategy (MSTR), one of the world's largest holders of bitcoin, fell 4.4%. The stock, which was added to the Nasdaq 100 last week, finished the year up nearly 360%, tracking a surge in the price of bitcoin. The digital currency was at $93,400 in recent trading, up from an overnight low of $91,700, but well down from its all-time high of around $108,000 earlier this month.

Moderna (MRNA) was the best-performing stock in the S&P 500, rising 5.6%, as Barron's called it "too cheap" and named the biotech firm as one of its top 10 picks of 2025.

The yield on 10-year Treasurys, which correlates with market expectations about where interest rates are headed, closed the year at 4.57%, up from 4.55% yesterday.

Gold futures were up 0.8% at around $2,640 an ounce, while WTI crude oil futures rose nearly 1%.
Disclaimer: the above is a summary showing certain market information. AInvest is not responsible for any data errors, omissions or other information that may be displayed incorrectly as the data is derived from a third party source. Communications displaying market prices, data and other information available in this post are meant for informational purposes only and are not intended as an offer or solicitation for the purchase or sale of any security. Please do your own research when investing. All investments involve risk and the past performance of a security, or financial product does not guarantee future results or returns. Keep in mind that while diversification may help spread risk, it does not assure a profit, or protect against loss in a down market.