Wall Street Ends Winning Streak, Eyes 'Santa Claus Rally' Amidst Year-End Volatility

• Wall Street closed largely unchanged Friday after Christmas, ending a five-session winning streak with minor declines across major indexes.
• Despite Friday's dip, US major stock indexes recorded weekly gains; Materials led S&P 500 sectors, while Real Estate is projected to underperform in 2025.
• Market strategist Ryan Detrick suggests the market took a 'breather' and expects bullish momentum to continue, with the 'Santa Claus rally' period now active.
• The 'Santa Claus rally' (Dec 27 - Jan 5) often signals strong S&P 500 gains, which could bode well for 2026, despite a tumultuous year with geopolitical tensions.
• The tech-heavy Nasdaq leads with double-digit percentage gains year-to-date, though investors are cautioned to expect continued volatility in 2026.

Why It Matters: Wall Street pauses after gains, eyes 'Santa Claus rally' for 2026 despite year-end volatility.