Global Markets Weekly Update
Date: December 26, 2025
U.S. Market Overview
The U.S. economy grew at its fastest pace in two years, with the S&P 500 and Dow Jones hitting record highs. Despite light trading volumes, positive economic data and AI optimism supported market sentiment. The Russell 2000 Index lagged, gaining only 0.19%. Precious metals like gold and silver saw significant price increases.
Economic Data Highlights
- GDP growth for Q3 was reported at 4.3%, surpassing expectations.
- Durable goods orders fell by 2.2% in October, driven by a decline in transportation equipment orders.
- Consumer confidence dropped for the fifth consecutive month, with the index falling to 89.1.
- Unemployment claims decreased to 214,000, while continuing claims rose to 1.923 million.
Bond Market Insights
U.S. Treasuries saw positive returns with yields generally lower. Investment-grade corporate bonds outperformed Treasuries, buoyed by a favorable GDP report.
Market Performance Summary
| Index | Friday's Close | Week's Change | % Change YTD |
|---|---|---|---|
| DJIA | 48,710.97 | 576.08 | 14.49% |
| S&P 500 | 6,929.94 | 95.44 | 17.82% |
| Nasdaq Composite | 23,593.10 | 285.48 | 22.18% |
| S&P MidCap 400 | 3,373.29 | 23.04 | 8.09% |
| Russell 2000 | 2,534.35 | 4.92 | 13.64% |
International Markets Overview
Europe
The STOXX Europe 600 Index rose 0.20%, with mixed performances across major indexes. Germany's DAX gained slightly, while the UK's FTSE 100 fell.
Japan
Japanese markets rose, driven by technology stocks. The 10-year government bond yield increased slightly, and the yen strengthened against the dollar.
China
Mainland Chinese stocks rose, but economic indicators showed slow growth. Analysts expect China to meet its growth target of around 5% for the year.
Other Key Markets
In Türkiye, a significant minimum wage increase was announced, while India's RBI injected liquidity to stabilize funding conditions, positively impacting the bond market.