Stock Market Today: 5 Key Updates Before Trading Opens

Stock futures were steady in early trading ahead of the shortened Christmas Eve session, following another record close for the S&P 500. The Dow Jones Industrial Average and Nasdaq futures were fractionally lower, while U.S. benchmark crude oil hovered near two-week highs at $58.50 per barrel, signaling continued strength in energy markets.

Bitcoin traded at $87,300, easing from an earlier high near $89,000. Meanwhile, the 10-year Treasury yield dipped slightly to 4.16%, a move that could influence mortgage rates and consumer loans. With a light calendar today, investors are focused on weekly jobless claims data for further signals on labor market health.

It will be a shortened trading day as markets close early for the Christmas holiday. The stock market will shut at 1 p.m. ET, while the bond market will close at 2 p.m. on Christmas Eve, remaining closed through December 25. Both markets will also be closed on January 1, 2026, in observance of New Year’s Day.

Looking ahead, stock traders will have a full session on New Year’s Eve, while bond trading will end early at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, December 31, marking the final trading adjustments before the new year begins.

Precious metals extended their rally as gold and silver reached fresh all-time highs for the third consecutive day. Gold futures gained 0.2% to trade near $4,513 an ounce, while silver futures advanced 1.3% to around $72 an ounce. Gold recently touched $4,555, setting a new record, with silver also climbing to its highest level ever.

The surge in gold and silver prices reflects expectations that the Federal Reserve will continue cutting interest rates, alongside investor demand for safe-haven assets amid geopolitical uncertainty and a weakening U.S. dollar. Gold has risen about 70% this year, while silver has more than doubled, underscoring the strength of the metals rally.

UiPath (PATH) shares climbed about 8% in premarket trading after news that the automation software company will be added to the S&P MidCap 400, replacing Synovus Financial Corp. (SNV). The inclusion will take effect before markets open on January 2, 2026, highlighting UiPath’s growing role in the mid-cap segment.

The S&P MidCap 400 tracks companies in the mid-range of market capitalization, and UiPath’s addition reflects investor confidence in its artificial intelligence-driven business model. Shares of UiPath are already up more than 25% this year, fueled by optimism that the company can be a long-term winner in the AI sector. Synovus shares, meanwhile, edged lower in premarket trading.

BP announced it will sell a 65% stake in its Castrol lubricants division to investment firm Stonepeak, a deal valued at about $6 billion and expected to close by the end of 2026. The move underscores BP’s renewed focus on oil production after investor pushback against its pivot toward renewable energy.

Interim CEO Carol Howle described the sale as a milestone in BP’s reset strategy, while Meg O’Neill is set to take over as CEO in April. Shares of BP traded little changed in U.S. markets following the announcement, reflecting cautious investor sentiment around the restructuring.

BP’s $6 billion sale of a majority stake in Castrol to Stonepeak signals a decisive shift back toward oil production after investor resistance to its renewable energy push. With Meg O’Neill set to take over as CEO in April, the deal marks a milestone in BP’s reset strategy, though market reaction has been muted so far.