Market Update - Quarter Ending December 31, 2024
Mixed Month for Markets
December was a mixed month for markets, as investors pulled back from most U.S. stocks due to concerns over rising interest rates and economic uncertainty. Despite the year-end sell-off, all three major U.S. indices finished the quarter and year in positive territory. The S&P 500 lost 2.38 percent in December but managed a 2.41 percent gain for the quarter and an impressive 25.02 percent gain for the full year. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 5.13 percent in December but was up 0.93 percent for the quarter and 14.99 percent over the full year. The technology-heavy Nasdaq Composite led the way with a 0.55 percent gain in December, which contributed to a 6.35 percent gain for the quarter and a 29.57 percent rise for the year.