LIVE MARKETS-US stocks start off New Year's Eve session with little pot and pan banging

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US STOCKS START OFF NEW YEAR'S EVE SESSION WITH LITTLE POT AND PAN BANGING

The main U.S. indexes are slightly red on the last trading day of 2025, but are set to wrap up a roller-coaster year characterized by uncertainty over President Donald Trump's tariffs and elation around AI with robust gains.

The S&P 500 .SPX and the Dow .DJI are poised to close their eighth consecutive month in the green, bolstered by an insatiable appetite for AI stocks that pushed all three indexes to record highs this year.

Nearly all S&P 500 sectors are lower early Wednesday with Real Estate .SPLRCR, only off around 0.4%, taking the biggest hit. Healthcare .SPXHC is roughly flat.

Meanwhile, Wednesday marks day five of the seven-day Santa Claus Rally period (the last five trading days of the year, and the first two trading days of the new year). With Wednesday's muted action so far, the S&P 500's rolling five-day change is now about -0.7%.

For the year, the SPX is now up around 17%. The Nasdaq Composite .IXIC is advancing 21%. The Dow is up about 13.5%. The small-cap Russell 2000 .RUT is up about 12%.

Here is a snapshot of where markets stood around 9:48 a.m. ET.

(Terence Gabriel)

EARLIER ON LIVE MARKETS:

AS SANTA RALLY SPUTTERS, ATTENTION SOON TURNS TO JANUARY BAROMETER CLICK HERE

FRESNILLO TAKES FTSE GOLD CLICK HERE

LONDON STOCKS MUTED ON FINAL DAY OF THE YEAR CLICK HERE

BEFORE THE BELL: EUROPE WRAPS UP 2025 ON A HIGH CLICK HERE