Dismal December Continues But Markets Head for Strong Yearly Gains

Dismal December Continues But Markets Head for Strong Yearly Gains

U.S. stocks looked set to edge down in the final trading session of 2024, as lingering worries about elevated interest rates and President-elect Donald Trump’s economic policies take some of the shine off what’s been a stellar year for markets.

Dow Jones Industrial Average futures were down 7 points, effectively trading flat, on Tuesday. Futures tracking the benchmark S&P 500 dipped 0.1%, and contracts tied to the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 also slid 0.1%.

All three indexes are on track for strong yearly gains–the Dow has added just under 5,000 points since Jan. 1, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 are both up about 25%.