Global Markets Weekly Update
Date: December 19, 2025
U.S. Market Overview
U.S. stock indexes ended the week mixed, with the Russell 2000 Index declining by 0.86% and the Dow Jones Industrial Average down 0.67%. The S&P MidCap 400 and S&P 500 remained relatively unchanged, while the Nasdaq Composite gained 0.48%. The week began with a decline due to ongoing concerns about tech stock valuations and mixed economic data, but reversed towards the end of the week following a positive inflation report and strong earnings from Micron Technology.
Key Economic Data
- Jobs Report: U.S. employers added 64,000 jobs in November, surpassing estimates, but the unemployment rate rose to 4.6%, the highest in over four years.
- Inflation: Core inflation dropped to 2.6%, the lowest since March 2021, with overall CPI rising 2.7% year-over-year.
- Business Activity: S&P Global's PMI showed a decline to 53.0, indicating slowing growth in both manufacturing and services.
Market Performance
| Index | Friday's Close | Week's Change | % Change YTD |
|---|---|---|---|
| DJIA | 48,134.89 | -323.16 | 13.14% |
| S&P 500 | 6,834.50 | 7.09 | 16.20% |
| Nasdaq Composite | 23,307.62 | 112.45 | 20.70% |
| S&P MidCap 400 | 3,350.26 | -0.69 | 7.35% |
| Russell 2000 | 2,529.42 | -22.03 | 13.42% |
International Markets
Europe
The pan-European STOXX Europe 600 Index rose 1.60%, supported by steady economic growth and looser monetary policy. The ECB kept rates unchanged, while the BoE cut rates to 3.75% amid slowing inflation and a weakening labor market.
Japan
Japan's stock markets fell, with the Nikkei 225 Index down 2.61%. The Bank of Japan raised its benchmark interest rate to 0.75%, the highest since 1995, amid rising inflation and economic growth concerns.
China
Mainland Chinese markets were mixed, with the CSI 300 Index down 0.28%. Economic indicators showed weak growth, with retail sales rising only 1.3% in November, the slowest since the pandemic.
Other Key Markets
Chile's central bank cut rates to 4.50% following a drop in inflation, while Mexico's central bank also reduced rates to 7.00% due to weak economic activity.
This material is for informational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice.