Stock market open today as traders return from the holiday break, with the S&P 500 inching closer to the coveted 7000 mark after Wall Street recorded historic gains this week. Markets reopened Friday with full trading hours following the Christmas closure, and investor sentiment remains optimistic heading into the final days of 2025.
🔥 Quick Facts
- S&P 500 traded near 6936 points on Friday, December 26, 2025, with traders resuming activity after Christmas
- Market rose 17% so far in 2025, driven primarily by artificial intelligence and technology stocks throughout the year
- Dow and S&P 500 hit record closing highs on December 24, capping off the holiday-shortened week with strength
- Investors targeting 7000 milestone before year-end, with analysts optimistic about finishing 2025 on a high note
Stock Market Open Today With Full Trading Hours
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After the Christmas Day closure on Thursday and the brief trading session on December 24 that ended at 1 p.m. ET, U.S. stock exchanges reopened Friday with regular trading hours. The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and NASDAQ opened at their standard 9:30 a.m. ET and ran through the 4:00 p.m. ET closing bell.
Traders returned to their desks amid thin post-holiday volume and subdued futures trading early in the morning. Major equity indexes showed modest movements as market participants reassessed positions after a four-day holiday break. The return to normal trading came after Wall Street experienced significant momentum gains through the week of December 23-24.
S&P 500 Eyes 7000 Mark Before Year-End
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The S&P 500 currently sits just 64 points away from the psychologically significant 7000 psychological level that analysts and investors have been tracking closely. Major institutions including Reuters, Bloomberg, and multiple Wall Street analysts have highlighted the potential for the index to achieve this milestone before the calendar year ends.
Investors face a narrow window in the final trading week of 2025 to push the S&P 500 across the 7000 threshold. Historical precedent shows that December 26 trading sessions have historically produced strong average gains of 0.5%, making today a potentially significant day for market momentum. The Nasdaq Composite closed at 23,613.31, up 0.2%, with strong performance from AI stocks driving the rally.
| Financial Metric | Value |
| S&P 500 Current Level | 6936 points |
| 2025 Year-to-Date Gain | +17% |
| Distance to 7000 | 64 points |
| Nasdaq Composite Close | 23,613.31 (+0.2%) |
Will Artificial Intelligence Stocks Continue Driving Rally?
The tech-heavy rally that dominated market performance throughout 2025 shows no signs of slowing down heading into the final week of trading. Artificial intelligence stocks and megacap technology companies have been the primary engines of growth for the major averages, with firms like Nvidia, Google (Alphabet), and other AI infrastructure leaders posting exceptional returns.
Nasdaq 100 has already surpassed 25,000, driven largely by AI-driven “agentic” technology and applications momentum. Market broadening has also occurred, with investors rotating into additional sectors beyond just mega-cap tech names. Fifth consecutive day of gains for major indexes heading into Friday trading demonstrates sustained confidence in continued momentum into 2026.
What to Expect: Final Trading Days and 2026 Outlook
Investors are closely watching the “Santa Claus rally” phenomenon, which historically has occurred in 78% of years with average returns of 1.3% during the traditional December 26 to January 2 trading window. Multiple analysts highlighted that this traditional year-end period could provide the final push needed for the S&P 500 to achieve the 7000 milestone before 2026 arrives.
The Federal Reserve minutes expected later this week could provide additional guidance on interest rate policy and economic outlook. Market momentum suggests traders remain optimistic about ending 2025 on a strong note, with positioning for what many Wall Street strategists predict will be another positive year for equity markets in 2026. Holiday-thinned volumes could amplify volatility, but current sentiment leans decidedly bullish.
Are Year-End Trading Days Your Best Investment Opportunity?
Year-end trading periods like today present unique opportunities and challenges for investor portfolios. While historical precedent shows December 26 sessions tend to produce outsized average gains, individual stock picks and sector rotation matter significantly. Thin trading volumes can amplify both rallies and declines, requiring careful position management.
Analysts universally agree that if the S&P 500 reaches 7000 before year-end, it would cap one of the strongest market years in recent memory. The market’s ability to achieve this goal depends on sustained AI stock momentum and broad-based investor confidence. With merely four trading days remaining in December, opportunities to add to positions or make final year-end adjustments are disappearing quickly for active traders and portfolio managers.
Sources
- Reuters – Wall Street coverage and S&P 500 7000 target analysis
- CNBC – Live market updates and trading commentary
- Bloomberg – AI stock momentum and year-end market outlook
Patrick Graham is a business and finance journalist translating Wall Street’s complexities into stories that matter to everyday readers. With extensive experience in financial journalism and economic analysis, this expert journalist provides sharp insights on market trends, corporate developments, and the economic forces affecting daily life. His reporting helps readers make sense of the business world’s biggest moves.