Markets Update Dec. 29, 2025 – Stocks Slip, Gold & Silver Retreat

Major U.S. indexes closed lower Monday as technology shares led declines, while precious metals retreated from record highs to start the holiday-shortened week. The Nasdaq, Dow Jones, and S&P 500 each fell around 0.5%, snapping a five-session winning streak, though all three remain up more than 1% for the week with hopes of a Santa Claus rally into 2026.

Nvidia (NVDA), the world’s most valuable public company, dropped 1.2%, while Tesla (TSLA) slid 3.3% to pace Nasdaq decliners. Palantir (PLTR) and Oracle (ORCL) also fell, reflecting investor concerns about heavy capital spending in AI infrastructure. Gabelli Funds’ Justin Bergner warned that overinvestment and uncertain profit pools could weigh on expectations for large language model providers.

Gold futures fell over 4% to $4,350 an ounce after CME Group raised margin requirements, pulling back from Friday’s record high of nearly $4,585. Silver futures dropped 6.5% to $72.15 after touching $82.65 earlier in the day. Gold miner Newmont (NEM) was the worst performer in the S&P 500, down nearly 6%.

Elsewhere, West Texas Intermediate crude rose 2% to $57.90 per barrel amid U.S.-Venezuela tensions. The 10-year Treasury yield eased to 4.11%, Bitcoin slipped to $87,000, and the U.S. dollar index edged higher to 98.06. Shares of DigitalBridge Group (DBRG) surged nearly 10% after SoftBank announced a $4 billion acquisition of the data-center investment firm.

After a week-long surge that pushed gold, silver, and other precious metals to record highs, prices tumbled Monday following a key adjustment by CME Group to its metals contracts.

Gold, which peaked at $4,565 per troy ounce on Friday, slid more than 4% to $4,355 in late afternoon trading. Silver, which had rallied even faster than gold, plunged nearly 9% to just above $73 an ounce after hitting $84 on Sunday.

The decline came after CME Group raised margin requirements on precious metals contracts. This change forces traders to deposit more cash into accounts that protect against default when taking physical delivery of futures, effectively raising the cost of betting on commodity prices.

When it comes to managing money, you don’t have to wait until January to start reducing debt or building retirement savings. Still, the new year often feels like the perfect time for a fresh financial reset.

In 2025, the most common resolutions included saving more (43%), paying down debt (37%), and cutting back on spending (31%), according to a Fidelity survey. Allianz research also showed that Americans are increasingly focused on financial stability as part of their New Year’s goals.

If you’re aiming to strengthen your finances in 2026, experts emphasize the importance of creating a clear, actionable plan. Doing so greatly improves the chances of sticking with your resolutions and achieving long-term success.

It’s often assumed that most adults are actively saving for retirement, but Federal Reserve survey data shows participation varies significantly by age. Savings participation rises quickly in early adulthood, peaks in midlife, and then gradually declines later in life.

About half of Americans under 35 report having retirement savings. That share climbs to roughly 62% among those aged 35 44 and 45 54, when workplace retirement plans become more accessible and contributions more consistent.

Participation tapers off with age, falling to 57% for ages 55 64 and back to about half for ages 65 74. In the 75+ bracket, only 42% report retirement accounts, reflecting how savings decline once people stop working, roll over accounts, or begin drawing balances down.

While saving peaks between the mid-30s and mid-50s, balances continue to grow into the 60s and 70s. Among account holders, median balances start below $19,000 for those under 35 but more than double by ages 35 44, showing steady accumulation over time.

On Monday, most technology stocks struggled, but Micron Technology (MU) stood out as the best-performing stock in the S&P 500. Shares of the memory-chip maker rose about 2.5% in afternoon trading, even as the broader tech sector and benchmark index slipped.

The S&P 500 Information Technology Sector fell roughly 0.6%, with only Materials (-1.1%) and Consumer Discretionary (-0.9%) performing worse. Applovin (APP), On Semiconductor (ON), and HP (HPQ) led sector declines, each dropping between 2.5% and 3%.

Forecasts from leading housing and financial institutions suggest mortgage rates will likely remain in the lower 6% range throughout 2026, offering only mild relief compared to recent highs.

Key Takeaways

• Rates remain unpredictable: Mortgage rates are shaped by inflation, housing data, and bond market movements—not just the Federal Reserve’s benchmark rate.
• Fed policy isn’t a direct driver: Even when the Fed cut rates by a full percentage point in late 2024, mortgage rates still climbed by 1.25 percentage points by early 2025.
• Mixed economic signals: Inflation trends and labor market data continue to send conflicting signals, leaving the Fed’s path uncertain.
• Best strategy for buyers: With limited rate relief ahead, experts suggest buying when you find the right home rather than waiting for significant rate drops.

Rob Burnette, CEO and tax planner at Outlook Financial Center, explains that many taxpayers risk facing large bills in April 2026 if they haven’t withheld enough federal income taxes throughout 2025.

Key Takeaways

• Estimate early: Free tax software can help calculate your 2025 tax liability, but waiting until filing season is too late for meaningful planning.
• Plan year-round: Tax planning should be ongoing, not a last-minute scramble.
• Get withholdings right: Ensuring enough is withheld from each paycheck helps avoid owing thousands at tax time.
• Goal: End the year close to “nominal”—owing little to nothing, rather than facing a surprise bill.

On Monday, energy stocks outperformed while the broader market slipped.

• The S&P 500 Energy Sector was the top performer among 11 tracked industries, rising 1%.
• Texas Pacific Land (TPL) gained 2.2%, while Devon Energy (DVN) and Diamondback Energy (FANG) each climbed 1.7%.
• The S&P 500 overall fell 0.4%, with the Materials Sector the weakest performer, down 1.1%.

An analysis by Michael Green of Simplify Asset Management argues that the traditional poverty line formula based on 1960s assumptions that one-third of a household’s budget went to food no longer reflects modern realities.

Key Points

• Official threshold vs. modern costs: The federal poverty line for a family of four is $32,150, but Green suggests a more “meaningful” threshold is closer to $140,000, given today’s expenses.
• Outdated formula: The Census Bureau’s formula, created in 1963, multiplies food costs by three. Yet food now accounts for only 12.9% of household spending (2023 Bureau of Labor Statistics data), while housing, healthcare, and childcare consume far larger shares.
• Changing household budgets: Rising costs in non-food essentials crowd out families’ ability to meet basic needs, making the official poverty measure less representative of financial stress.

Homebuyer activity is accelerating as 2025 closes out.

• Monthly jump: Pending home sales rose 3.3% in November vs. October, the strongest monthly gain since February 2023.
• Year-over-year growth: Sales increased 2.6% compared to November 2024, signaling renewed buyer confidence.
• Drivers: Lower mortgage rates, wage growth outpacing home prices, and more inventory choices are boosting affordability and encouraging buyers to re-enter the market, according to NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun.

Regional highlights:

• West: Biggest monthly surge at +9.2%.
• South: Largest annual gain at +3.3%.

Shares of Newmont (NEM), which have surged more than 160% in 2025, dropped nearly 6% Monday, pacing early S&P 500 decliners. The decline mirrored gold futures, which pulled back 3.6% to $4,390 an ounce after hitting a record high last Friday.

Despite the pullback, both Newmont and gold remain among the year’s strongest performers, with gold up nearly two-thirds year-to-date.

Analysts expect the U.S. dollar to remain under pressure in 2026, extending its decline after President Donald Trump’s tariff plans in April rattled markets.

Key Points

• 2025 performance: The dollar weakened as much as 10% against a basket of foreign currencies, though it has since retraced some losses and is now down about 7% year-to-date.
• Global reliance remains: Despite weakness, the dollar continues to dominate global trade and finance, far from “de-dollarization” scenarios.
• End of a bull cycle: The drop signals the conclusion of the dollar’s decade-long strength, fueled by global investors pouring into U.S. stocks and bonds.
• 2026 forecast: Deutsche Bank projects the trade-weighted dollar will be 10% weaker by end-2026, marking a slower decline than in 2025 but reinforcing the end of an unusually long bull run.

Shares of DigitalBridge Group (DBRG) soared more than 30% in premarket trading Monday, following reports that Japanese conglomerate SoftBank is nearing a deal to acquire the data-center investment firm.

• Year-to-date gains: DigitalBridge stock had already risen 23% in 2025 before the latest surge.
• AI-driven strategy: The acquisition is reportedly part of SoftBank’s push to capitalize on the AI infrastructure boom.
• Financial terms: Details of the DigitalBridge deal have not yet been disclosed.

Recent SoftBank moves:

• Sold its entire stake in Nvidia (NVDA) for $5.8 billion last month.
• Invested billions into OpenAI, now the world’s most valuable startup.

Homeowners in several states are facing mounting pressure as foreclosure activity continues to climb. According to ATTOM data, nationwide foreclosures rose 21% year-over-year in November, though activity was still 3% lower than October and remains well below historic peaks.

The impact is uneven across the country. Delaware saw the sharpest increase, with foreclosure activity up nearly 159% year-over-year. New Jersey recorded a rise of more than 48%, while Nevada posted a 26% increase and Florida was higher by about 21%. These figures highlight how regional housing markets are struggling under the weight of higher costs and economic pressures.

ATTOM CEO Rob Barber noted that November marked the ninth consecutive month of annual increases, signaling a steady trend. He emphasized that while volumes are not at crisis levels, the market is still “normalizing” as homeowners contend with rising housing expenses and shifting financial conditions.

Ryan Quinlan, a 28-year-old software engineer in North Carolina, has long relied on banks to supply boxes of pennies typically 50 rolls, or 2,500 coins for his coin roll hunting hobby. He searched for rare finds like wheat-stamped coins or double impressions. But since the U.S. government officially stopped minting pennies in November, sourcing sealed rolls has become nearly impossible, leaving collectors like Quinlan frustrated.

Quinlan admits the end of the penny feels inevitable, even if disappointing. He recalls having a reliable system for collecting thousands of coins, but now withdrawals in that denomination are no longer available. His sentiment reflects a broader shift in American attitudes toward the penny, which many see as impractical to carry or use.

The penny’s cultural and historical significance, however, remains strong. Producing each coin cost nearly $3.70, with more than 300 billion already in circulation, leading the government to end production. Still, hundreds gathered at the Lincoln Memorial in December 2025 to honor the coin’s legacy, underscoring its symbolic value.

Collectors are especially impacted, as coin roll hunting traditions fade. Yet many in the coin community view this moment as a chance to spark renewed interest in numismatics. The end of the penny may inspire a new generation to explore coin collecting, keeping alive the legacy of a 232-year-old artifact.

Across the latest market and economic updates, the clear theme is volatility paired with structural shifts. Stocks are mixed with tech under pressure, precious metals retreat after margin hikes, energy shares outperform, and housing shows renewed momentum. Meanwhile, broader forces from mortgage rate forecasts to currency weakness and even cultural shifts like the end of the penny underscore how financial landscapes are evolving rapidly heading into 2026.