The S&P 500 (^GSPC 0.14%) slipped 0.13% to 6,896.45, Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC 0.24%) fell 0.24% to 23,419.08, and Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI 0.20%) eased 0.20% to 48,367.05 in quiet, year-end trading near record territory. A day so calm, even the market’s nerves were on vacation.
Market movers
Industrial bellwether Boeing (BA +0.81%) gained around 0.6% as industrials outperformed, while healthcare insurer Molina Healthcare (MOH +2.47%) jumped roughly 2.5% on positive investor commentary; semiconductor name AXT (AXTI +8.29%) and bank OceanFirst Financial (OCFC 6.66%) also featured among notable individual movers, contributing to mixed breadth. A dividend hunter’s dream? Not quite-unless you’re betting on the next quarterly payout.
What this means for investors
The penultimate trading day of 2025 was a relatively quiet one. As markets close out the year at, or near, record highs, some investors are shifting money into more economically sensitive areas with perceived value stocks. Ah, value stocks-those elusive creatures that occasionally pay dividends and don’t require a PhD to understand.
That makes sense after three consecutive very strong years for equities. High-flying tech stocks may be due for a correction, after all. But remember, folks, in the world of dividends, patience is a virtue-unless you’re in a hurry to buy a new car.
Big movers today included Molina Healthcare (MOH +2.47%)after “Big Short” investor Michael Burry advised going long on the healthcare name. Boeing rose following an announcement that the aerospace leader was a U.S. Air Force contract worth about $8.5 billion to build fighter jets for the Israeli Air Force. A contract so large, even the Pentagon’s budget planners blinked.
Semiconductor names Intel (INTC +1.66%)and AXT, as well as OceanFirst Financial each also made notable moves today. OceanFirst plunged 6.7% after the bank holding company announced a merger agreement and a new strategic investment partner. A merger so sudden, it’s like a slapstick scene in a silent film.
Tomorrow will be a normal equity trading session alongside an early bond-market close. Markets will then be closed on New Year’s Day. A day so festive, even the stock indices are taking a bow.
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2025-12-31 01:32