On Thursday, December 28th, the U.S. stock markets closed mixed, with the Nasdaq composite recording a slight decline.
In economic data, initial jobless claims rose to 218,000 in the week ending December 23rd, exceeding expectations.
The trade deficit in goods widened to $90.3 billion in November. Wholesale inventories dipped slightly by 0.2% in November, while pending home sales remained unchanged, following a 1.2% decline in October.
In the S&P 500's 11 key sectors, utilities saw the biggest percentage increase. Meanwhile, energy stocks experienced the most significant decline, burdened by falling crude oil prices.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average increased by ...