US stocks closed at record highs on Friday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average rising 0.4% to reach a new high. The S&P 500 gained 0.6%, while the Nasdaq Composite jumped 0.9%. This marks the best post-Thanksgiving Friday session for the S&P 500 since 2012.
The gains come ahead of potential changes in tariffs and interest rates, which have been weighing on investors’ minds. However, a phone call between Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and US President-elect Donald Trump has given hope that a tariff war can be avoided.
Investors are also keeping an eye on the Federal Reserve’s rate-cut plans, with many bets suggesting a slower pace of cuts. Despite this, the stock market has been strong this year, with the S&P 500 up over 25% through November.
If the S&P 500 reaches another 20%+ annual gain, it would mark a rare achievement since 1998-99. With just one month left in the year, investors are optimistic about the market’s prospects.
Source: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/live/stock-market-today-dow-sp-500-close-at-record-highs-to-cap-winning-month-for-us-stocks-180252618.html