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Wall Street gains ground as crude prices and oil company stocks rise

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks gained ground on Wall Street Monday to kick off their first full week of the new year. The gains were broad, with particularly big jumps for energy companies and banks. Elsewhere, industrial companies and retailers joined in to help boost major indexes. The S&P 500 rose 43.58 points, or 0.6%, to 6,902.05. The benchmark index is just below its record set in late December. The Dow Jones Industrial Average set a record, rising 594.79 points, or 1.2%, to 48,977.18. The Nasdaq composite rose 160.19 points, or 0.7%, to 23,395.82. Smaller company stocks had a ...

Last year’s odd economy in five charts, and what to watch for in 2026

WASHINGTON (AP) — The economy in 2025 was filled with contradictions, as growth was healthy while hiring slowed, inflation stayed elevated and unemployment rose. Last year’s odd outcomes raise a host of questions for the upcoming year: Will a growing economy eventually boost the sluggish job market? Or are last year’s weak job gains a sign of a stumbling economy that could get worse? There is another uncomfortable possibility: The economy could keep growing without much hiring, as technology — particularly artificial intelligence — enables more companies to step up their ...

Stocks waver as 2025 winds down while gold and silver rise

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks wavered in afternoon trading on Wall Street Tuesday as 2025 nudges closer to the finish line. The S&P 500 was mostly unchanged. The benchmark index is still on track for a gain of more than 17% for the year. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 78 points, or 0.2%, as of 2:55 p.m. Eastern. The Nasdaq composite fell 0.1%. The biggest weights on the market remained technology companies, especially those focused on advancements for artificial intelligence. Nvidia and Apple wobbled between small losses and breaking even. Both companies have outsized values ...

Stocks slip on Wall Street as 2025 comes to a close

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks slipped in quiet trading on Wall Street Monday to kick off another holiday-shortened week. The losses have little impact on the broader annual gains for major indexes as they close out their final days of the year. There are two trading days left before the year ends. Markets in the U.S. will be closed Thursday for New Year’s Day. The S&P 500 fell 24.20 points, or 0.3%, to 6,905.74. The benchmark index is still up more than 17% for the year and it remains on track for its eighth monthly gain in a row. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 249.04 points, ...

How to build an emergency fund, pay off debt and make a plan for your money in 2026

NEW YORK (AP) — The start of a new year usually brings new motivation to achieve goals like eating healthier or finally cleaning your basement. Many resolutions also focus on financial goals, such as paying off credit card debt, saving for a new house, or simply getting more educated about money. When building your goals for 2026, Erica Grundza, certified financial planner at Betterment, an investing and savings app, recommends focusing less on the past and more on an optimistic, yet realistic, vision for the future. She recommends that you focus on reestablishing the “why” ...

U.S. stocks approach records after mixed reports on economic growth, consumer confidence

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are edging closer to records Tuesday following updates that showed the economy grew sharply during the third quarter, but inflation remains high and consumers are losing confidence. The S&P 500 rose 0.4% and is hovering just above the all-time high it set earlier this month. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 91 points, or 0.2%, as of 3:08 p.m. Eastern. The Nasdaq composite rose 0.5%. A majority of stocks with the S&P 500 were losing ground, but several big technology stocks pushed the market higher. Nvidia rose 2.7% and Google’s parent company, ...