US stocks end higher ahead of Christmas holiday

The Dow Jones Industrial Average edged up 0.15%, or 66 points, to 42,906 points, after incurring losses at 2.25% last week.

Meanwhile, the S&P 500 Index increased 0.75%, or 43 points, to 5,974 points, and the Nasdaq Composite advanced about 1%, or 192 points, to 19,764 points.

As for the European indices, STOXX Europe 600 advanced 0.15% to 502 points, after sustaining 2.75% losses last week.

FTSE 100 rose 0.2% to 8,102 points, DAX 40 fell 0.2% to 19,848 points, and CAC 40 remained unchanged at 7,272 points.

In Japan, Nikkei 225 advanced 1.2% to 39,161 points. TOPIX added 0.9% to 2,726 points.

In the oil market, futures contracts for Brent crude for February 2025 delivery retreated 0.45%, or $0.31 at $72.63 per barrel, post last week’s 2.1% losses.

Meanwhile, prices of West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil for February 2025 delivery fell 0.3%, or $0.22 to $69.24 per barrel, widening last week’s losses amounting to 2.6%.

As for gold, futures prices for the yellow metal for February delivery inched down 0.6%, or $15.7 to $2,628 per ounce.

A Conference Board survey revealed that US consumer confidence declined in December, reaching its lowest level in three months, as Americans fear that Donald Trump’s policies on imported goods could potentially drive inflation higher again.

Trading activity is expected to slow down this week due to the holidays, with the US stock market closing early on Tuesday and remaining closed on Wednesday due to Christmas holidays.