Wall Street Ends 2025 with Slight Losses After Strong Year

Justin Flinn, left, works on the floor at the New York Stock Exchange in New York, Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Wall Street finished the final trading day of 2025 with modest losses, ending the year on a quieter note. The S&P 500 fell about 0.7%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped around 0.6%, and the Nasdaq Composite slipped roughly 0.8%. Trading was light as investors waited for New Year’s Day, when markets are closed.

Despite the year-end decline, U.S. stocks posted strong overall gains for 2025. Optimism around artificial intelligence and expectations for higher corporate profits fueled much of the market’s rally. Over the year, the major indexes recorded double-digit gains.

The year also brought periods of volatility. Tariff uncertainty and ongoing concerns about interest rates contributed to market fluctuations. Inflation remained above the Federal Reserve’s long-term target despite several rate cuts during the year, keeping investors cautious.

On the last trading day of the year, most sectors ended in the red, while safe-haven assets such as gold and silver recorded gains. Oil prices finished slightly lower, rounding out a year of mixed performance for commodities.