US Stocks End 2025 with Losses, Santa Claus Rally Fails to Appear

• S&P 500 Index closed 2025 with a 0.7% loss, marking the broadest decline since May, with Nasdaq 100 and Magnificent Seven also slipping.
• Expectations for a traditional "Santa Claus rally" were unmet, as light trading and minor price swings defined the year-end sessions.
• Despite the year-end dip, the S&P 500 advanced 16% in 2025, following strong gains in the prior two years, even with April's tariff-induced dip.
• Individual stock movers included Nike Inc. (up 4%), Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc. (up 25%), and Axsome Therapeutics (up 23%), while Corcept Therapeutics Inc. plunged 50%.
• Warren Buffett's last day at Berkshire Hathaway Inc. saw the stock little changed, as miners also slipped due to increased margins on precious-metal futures.

Why It Matters: US stocks closed 2025 on a down note, missing a Santa Claus rally despite a strong annual gain.