Traders at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) experienced a pause in activity on Thanksgiving Day, with the markets scheduled to reopen on Friday for a shortened trading session that will conclude by 1 p.m. ET. As the month draws to a close, major U.S. stock indexes are poised to finish November on a down note, based on recent calculations by CNBC.
As of Wednesday’s market close, the S&P 500 showed a month-to-date decline of 0.4%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped by 0.29%. Notably, the Nasdaq Composite fared worse, retreating by 2.15%, significantly lagging behind its counterparts amid struggles in technology stocks throughout the month.
The prospect of a substantial rebound in stock prices during Friday’s brief trading hours appears minimal, raising concerns about the sustainability of any gains. The S&P 500 and Dow Jones had enjoyed six consecutive months of growth, and the Nasdaq had experienced an impressive seven-month upward streak. However, the current trends indicate a potential halt to these winning series.
Historically, the S&P 500 has benefitted from an average increase of 1.8% in November since 1950 according to the Stock Trader’s Almanac. Additionally, following a U.S. presidential election, the index typically rises about 1.6%. Yet, the current post-election year has not adhered to these historical patterns, making future market movements difficult to predict.
As for the broader market landscape, U.S. futures remained largely unchanged Thursday night, while Asian markets displayed mixed results on Friday. Japan’s Nikkei 225 saw slight gains amid volatile trading conditions influenced by inflation data that exceeded expectations.
In other news, political developments are capturing attention as President Trump announced plans to suspend migration from certain “Third World Countries” and cancel federal benefits for noncitizens. The specifics regarding affected countries were not disclosed.
In Southeast Asia, South Korea implemented sanctions against Prince Group, a Cambodian conglomerate accused of orchestrating significant fraud operations in the region. This action adds to the mounting punitive measures that the U.S., U.K., and Singapore have already enacted against the company.
On the diplomatic front, Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed openness to “serious” peace discussions, indicating that the U.S.-led framework could serve as a foundation for future agreements. He noted that the U.S. appears to be taking Russia’s stance into account.
Looking ahead, Bank of America analysts predict limited upside for the S&P 500 in 2026, forecasting only a single-digit percentage rise. This projection highlights potential slowdowns in growth across financial markets amid an evolving economic landscape.
Lastly, insights into Europe’s approach to artificial intelligence suggest that while the continent may not dominate large-scale AI facilities, it could find success in specialized, cloud-focused operations. A senior fund manager pointed out that the challenging aspects of European development may lead to greater long-term value due to the difficulty of replication.
Overall, the immediate market outlook remains uncertain, with a mix of political, economic, and international factors influencing investor sentiment as the holiday season approaches.
