Stocks suffered steep losses to start Christmas week, but a three-day recovery put one of the major benchmarks in record-high territory ahead of the long holiday weekend. (As a reminder, Christmas Eve is a full-day stock market holiday this year.)
Volume was lighter than usual Thursday, with many on Wall Street logging off to start their holiday celebrations early. However, there was still plenty of economic data to mull over for those who did stick around, including the latest reading on inflation.
The personal-consumption expenditures index – also known as the Federal Reserve's preferred price gauge – rose 5.7% year-over-year in November, the fastest pace since 1982. Excluding the volatile food and energy sectors, the index increased 4.7% on an annualized basis, the highest reading in 32 years.
From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance
Be a smarter, better informed investor.
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
Also seen amid the onslaught of economic data released today was the latest update on consumer spending, which rose 0.6% month-over-month in November, slower than the 1.4% increase seen in October.
The major indexes all notched solid wins, with the S&P 500 Index's 0.6% gain to 4,725 enough for a new record high. The Dow Jones Industrial Average ended the day up 0.6% at 35,950, while the Nasdaq Composite rose 0.9% to 15,653.
Other news in the stock market today:
- The small-cap Russell 2000 jumped 0.9% to 2,241.
- U.S. crude oil futures rose 1.4% to settle at $73.79 per barrel.
- Gold futures gained 0.5% to finish at $1,811.70 an ounce.
- Bitcoin spiked 4% to $50,959.36. (Bitcoin trades 24 hours a day; prices reported here are as of 4 p.m.)
- Nikola (NKLA) soared 18.0% after the electric-truck maker made a post on Twitter late Wednesday. The tweet included pictures of a customer receiving a Tre battery-electric vehicle, with the caption "Our first customer delivery done, and more to come." NKLA stock has had a rough go of it in 2021, down more than 60% from its late-January record high above $30.
- Crocs (CROX) was a big decliner in today's trading, shedding 11.6%. The footwear maker said it would buy privately held rival Heydude in a cash-and-stock deal valued at $2.5 billion. "Heydude has experienced incredible growth in revenue and profits over the past few years," said Anne Mehlman, chief financial officer at Crocs. "Heydude is expected to be immediately accretive to our high revenue growth, industry-leading operating margins and earnings. We expect the combined business to generate significant free cash flow, enabling us to quickly deleverage while investing to support future growth. We are excited about the combination and are confident in our ability to deliver long-term shareholder value." The acquisiton is expected to close in the first quarter of 2022.
Ho! Ho! Ho!
Are we seeing the start of the Santa Claus rally? The S&P 500 ended the week up 2.3% – and the momentum could just be getting started, if history is any guide.
The "Santa Claus Rally is the final five trading days of the year and first two trading days of the following year," says Ryan Detrick, chief market strategist at LPL Financial. Going back to 1950, the S&P 500 has been higher 78.9% of the time over this seven-day stretch, averaging a 1.3% return, according to Detrick.
Why are these seven days so strong? "Whether optimism over a coming new year, holiday spending, traders on vacation, institutions squaring up their books – or the holiday spirit – the bottom line is that bulls tend to believe in Santa," he adds.
Seasonal tendencies such as these are great for investors looking to make short-term tweaks or aggressive bets, but investors looking for buy-and-hold solutions may want to be more tactical in their approaches. One way to do this is to follow what the so-called "smart money" is doing.
Recently, hedge funds and other billionaire investors like Warren Buffett released information about their latest trades. Read on as we uncover the highest-conviction stock picks smart-money investors made in the third quarter.
-
Markets Are Quiet Ahead of Fed Day: Stock Market TodayInvestors, traders and speculators appear to be on hold amid an unusually fraught Fed meeting.
-
Quiz: Test Your Knowledge of the OBBB, Wealth Transfer and Early RetirementQuiz The financial professionals who contribute to Kiplinger's Adviser Intel recently wrote about the OBBB's impact on retirement, how to ensure your wealth passes to your family and early retirement questions.
-
Markets Are Quiet Ahead of Fed Day: Stock Market Today
Investors, traders and speculators appear to be on hold amid an unusually fraught Fed meeting.
-
Stocks Rise to Start Fed Week: Stock Market TodayThe Nasdaq Composite and S&P 500 hit new record closing highs as Wall Street awaits the Fed's next rate cut.
-
S&P 500 Slips Ahead of Fed Week: Stock Market TodayAll eyes are on the Federal Reserve ahead of next week's critical policy meeting.
-
Dow Gains 617 Points as Rate Cuts Near: Stock Market TodayWednesday's economic data didn't shift Wall Street's expectations that the Fed is preparing for a rate cut at next week's meeting.
-
S&P 500 Hits New High After Oracle Earnings: Stock Market TodayAnother down day for Apple held the Dow Jones Industrial Average back, though.
-
Stocks Grind Up to New All-Time Highs: Stock Market TodayUnitedHealth stock led the Dow Jones Industrial Average amid increasing signs the labor market has not been well for months.
-
Markets Prepare for August Inflation Data: Stock Market TodayApple CEO Tim Cook is still important, but price action this week is as much about incoming inflation data ahead of next week's Fed meeting.
-
Stocks Slip as Job Growth Stalls: Stock Market TodayThe August jobs report came in much weaker than expected, while the unemployment rate ticked higher.
