neutral
Recently
Dow Ends First 2026 Session Higher Yet No Santa Claus Rally Evidence
The Dow closed up on the first day of 2026, but markets did not yet show signs of a typical year-end Santa Claus rally amid mixed sector performance.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed higher on the first trading day of 2026, extending early year optimism in U.S. markets, although analysts noted the absence of a classic ‘Santa Claus rally’ where stocks typically surge during year end and early January. Broader market performance remained mixed, with investors balancing hopes for economic data, corporate earnings and rate expectations. Leadership continued to shift between cyclical and defensive names, while volatility persisted in early trading sessions.