US stocks post weekly gains despite quiet session
Wall Street closed a low-volume, post-Christmas trading session slightly lower on Friday, ending a five-day winning streak, but all three major US stock indexes still recorded gains for the week.
Market activity was muted with few developments to drive strong moves in either direction. Analysts said the pause followed a strong rally earlier in the week, with investors taking a breather after the holiday period.
Attention has turned to the so-called Santa Claus rally, a seasonal trend in which the S&P 500 typically rises during the final five trading days of the year and the first two of the new year. The period began earlier this week and is seen by some as a positive signal for market performance in 2026.
With only a few trading days left in a volatile year marked by tariff concerns, geopolitical tensions and strong gains in artificial intelligence-linked stocks, the major US indexes remain on track to post double-digit percentage gains for the year.
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