The U.S. stock market was closed on Thursday, December 25th, 2025, in observance of the Christmas holiday. However, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) concluded its holiday-shortened session on Wednesday, December 24th, with notable gains, reflecting a positive sentiment in the market. The index was up 288.75 (0.5961%) points, closing at 48731.16. This performance was largely driven by a rotation into value and cyclical stocks, coupled with specific corporate developments. Investors appeared to be shifting away from high-flying technology names towards sectors poised to benefit from a growing U.S. economy, with financials showing particular strength.
Among the thirty components of the Dow, Nike (NKE) emerged as the top performer, surging by an impressive 4.64% to close at $60.00. This significant jump was reportedly fueled by news of Apple CEO Tim Cook's purchase of approximately $3 million worth of Nike shares. Other notable gainers included Merck & Co. (MRK), which rose 1.34% to $106.45, and Walt Disney Company (DIS), up 1.11% to $114.48. Financial giants also saw strong momentum, with Goldman Sachs (GS) climbing 1.01% to $910.78 and JPMorgan Chase (JPM) increasing 0.99% to $329.17, underscoring the broader shift towards value and cyclical plays.
Conversely, some technology stocks experienced declines as investors rebalanced portfolios. Nvidia (NVDA) was among the biggest losers, falling 0.61% to $188.61. This dip followed reports that Nvidia had ceased testing Intel's 18A chip manufacturing process, contributing to a broader pullback in semiconductor stocks. Other slight decliners included Cisco Systems (CSCO), down 0.18% to $78.02, and Honeywell International (HON), which saw a marginal decrease of 0.06% to $196.93. This divergence highlights the ongoing market dynamics as investors assess future growth prospects across different sectors.
Ed Liston is a senior contributing editor at TheStockMarketWatch.com. An active market watcher and investor, Ed guides an independent team of experienced analysts and writes for multiple stock trader publications.