By Mucahithan Avcioglu
ISTANBUL (AA) - US stocks ended lower on the final trading day of the year while climbing compared to end-2024.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.63%, or 303.77 points, to close at 48,063.29. The index climbed around 13% versus the end of 2024.
The Nasdaq slipped 0.76%, or 177.09 points, to 23,241.99, while surging 20.36% during the year, and the S&P 500 lost 0.74%, or 50.74 points, to 6,845.50, while climbing 16.4% compared to the end of 2024.
The Volatility Index (VIX), also known as the "fear index,” rose 4.33% to 14.95. The index lost 13.8% versus the end of 2024, also falling from a daily close high of 52.33 in April.
Protectionist trade measures implemented by US President Donald Trump, uncertainties surrounding the Federal Reserve's monetary policy and interest in AI-driven growth have all influenced market trends in 2025.
Analysts said that given the signs of a slowdown in the US labor market and expectations that the next elected Fed chairman will adopt a dovish stance, the Fed's interest rate path will continue to be a determining factor for markets in 2026.
On the macroeconomic data front, the number of initial jobless claims in the US fell by 16,000 to 199,000 in the week ending Dec. 27.
Markets will be closed Thursday for New Year’s Day.