Global Markets Weekly Update - 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% for the week. Precious metals like gold and silver saw significant price increases.

Economic Data Highlights

The U.S. GDP grew at an annual rate of 4.3% in Q3, driven by increased consumer spending. However, durable goods orders fell by 2.2% in October, indicating potential weaknesses in business investment. Consumer confidence dropped for the fifth consecutive month, reflecting concerns over job security and economic conditions.

Bond Market Insights

U.S. Treasuries saw positive returns with yields generally lower amid light trading. Investment-grade corporate bonds outperformed Treasuries, buoyed by optimistic sentiment following the 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

In Europe, the STOXX Europe 600 Index rose 0.20%, with mixed performances across major indexes. Germany's economy is expected to recover gradually, while UK business sentiment remains divided. Japan's markets rose, driven by technology stocks, while China's markets also saw gains despite weak economic indicators.

Other Key Markets

In Türkiye, a significant minimum wage increase was announced, while India's Reserve Bank implemented a large liquidity injection to stabilize funding conditions, positively impacting market sentiment.

This summary provides an overview of the key market insights and economic indicators as of December 26, 2025. For further details, please refer to the original source.