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Stock Market Update: A Promising Start to 2026

A Strong Day for Traders

On December 17, 2025, traders diligently worked on the bustling floor of the New York Stock Exchange in New York City, laying the groundwork for what many hope will be a lucrative year ahead. Friday marks the first trading day of 2026, and stock futures have shown promising signs of growth.

Futures on the Rise

Stock futures rose notably on this initial trading day, with tech companies aiming to capitalize on the favorable momentum gained from last year. The Dow Jones Industrial Average futures climbed 192 points, or approximately 0.4%. Meanwhile, S&P 500 futures gained 0.6%, and Nasdaq-100 futures surged by 1%.

This upward movement signifies a reversal from the previous trend in recent years where the S&P 500 consistently finished lower on the first trading day for three consecutive years. Historically, there hasn’t been a clear trend, with the first day of trading in the new year being positive around 48% of the time since the 1950s, according to insights from Bespoke Investment Group.

Tech Stocks Leading the Charge

In the premarket segment, Nvidia experienced a rise exceeding 1%, while Palantir Technologies advanced by more than 2%. Both of these artificial intelligence-centered companies performed exceptionally well over the course of 2025, where Nvidia saw an impressive gain of about 39% and Palantir surged astoundingly by 135%. Other notable tech stocks such as Apple, Alphabet, and Microsoft also displayed positive trading trends.

Benefits from New Tariff Policies

In addition to tech stock developments, there was notable activity from companies in the furniture sector. Shares of Wayfair, an online home goods retailer, jumped over 3%, and luxury furniture retailer RH saw its shares spike about 5%. This surge is attributed to President Donald Trump’s decision on New Year’s Eve to postpone tariff increases on upholstered furniture, kitchen cabinets, and vanities for an entire year. Specifically, the announcement delays a significant 30% duty on upholstered furniture and a crushing 50% levy on kitchen cabinets and vanities, while keeping in place a 25% tariff imposed earlier in September.

Tech Sector: The Star Performer of 2025

The tech sector proved to be the standout performer in 2025, leading the broader market to substantial gains. The S&P 500 increased by over 16% last year, marking its third consecutive annual advancement. The Nasdaq Composite also reflected impressive growth, soaring more than 20%, while the Dow climbed approximately 13%. All three benchmarks reached record high levels in 2025.

Deutsche Bank strategists noted, "It was a strong year overall, thanks to continued economic growth, optimism surrounding AI, and additional cuts to central bank rates." However, they emphasized that these headline gains masked significant volatility, particularly in April when tariff announcements sparked one of the S&P 500’s most considerable two-day slumps since World War II.

Looking Ahead: Optimism for 2026

Wall Street strategists are optimistic about further gains in the U.S. stock market for 2026. According to the CNBC Market Strategist Survey, the average target for the S&P 500 this year is set at 7,629, indicating an attractive upside of 11.4%.

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