Wall Street rises to the edge of its all-time high
On Friday, the U.S. stock market approached its all-time high, with the S&P 500 rising 0.2% to finish just 0.3% below its previous record from October. The Dow Jones gained 104 points (0.2%), and the Nasdaq added 0.3%, capping a relatively quiet trading week. Ulta Beauty surged 12.7% after strong earnings and raised its annual revenue forecast, while Victoria’s Secret rallied 18% on a smaller-than-expected loss and an improved sales outlook. Warner Bros. Discovery rose 6.3% amid news that Netflix intends to acquire it for $72 billion, though the deal faces regulatory hurdles. Netflix shares fell 2.9%, and Paramount Skydance dropped 9.8%. SoFi Technologies also declined 6.1% after announcing a $1.5 billion share sale. Overall market optimism is supported by expectations that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates next week, marking the third cut in 2025 to address a slowing labor market. Inflation remains above target, but recent data shows softening inflation expectations. The 10-year Treasury yield edged higher to 4.13%. International markets were mixed, with gains in Germany and South Korea, while Japan's Nikkei 225 fell 1.1% due to weak consumer spending and speculation about interest rate hikes.
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How major US stock indexes fared Wednesday, 12/10/2025
On Wednesday, December 10, 2025, U.S. stock indexes rose sharply following the Federal Reserve’s decision to cut its main interest rate in an effort to strengthen the job market. Hopes for additional rate cuts in 2026 further boosted investor optimism. The S&P 500 increased by 0.7% to 6,886.68, just below its October all-time high. The Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced 1% to 48,057.75, and the Nasdaq composite rose 0.3% to 23,654.16. The Russell 2000 index, which tracks smaller companies, climbed 1.3% to 2,559.61. Comments by Fed Chair Jerome Powell were seen as less restrictive on future rate cuts than anticipated, contributing to the market uptrend. For the week, all major indexes posted modest gains, led by the Russell 2000 with a 1.5% weekly rise. Year-to-date, the Nasdaq is leading with a 22.5% increase, followed by the S&P 500 (17.1%), Russell 2000 (14.8%), and the Dow (13%).
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US stocks rise after the Fed cuts rates and hopes build for more
On December 10, 2025, U.S. stock markets surged after the Federal Reserve cut its interest rate to stimulate the job market, with hopes rising for more cuts in 2026. The S&P 500 rose 0.7%, nearly hitting a record high, the Dow gained 497 points (1%), and the Nasdaq climbed 0.3%. While the rate cut was anticipated, markets reacted positively to Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s comments, which suggested further rate reductions weren't ruled out. Powell acknowledged the Fed's challenging position between cooling inflation and supporting employment, but noted that interest rates were now neutral. The bond market experienced declining yields, with the 10-year Treasury dropping to 4.15% and the two-year yield falling to 3.53%. Traders now estimate a 71% likelihood of at least two rate cuts in 2026. The Fed also unveiled a program to purchase short-term Treasurys to support market liquidity. Among individual stocks, GE Vernova surged 15.6%, Palantir rose 3.3% on a Navy contract, and Cracker Barrel improved 3.5% despite lowering its earnings forecast. However, GameStop dropped 4.3% due to weak revenue, despite beating profit expectations. Overseas markets were relatively flat with mixed results across Europe and Asia.
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