Stocks are skipping the ‘Santa Claus rally’ again this year. That doesn’t bode well for January. The Fed has two bad options in 2025: accept higher inflation or risk a recession. Natural-gas prices see biggest jump in nearly 3 years, leading oil higher.

Wall Street is pointing toward more gains on the final day of trading in what’s been a banner year for U.S. markets.

Investors are heading into 2025 in an optimistic mood, believing that with the economy on a firm footing and the White House in their corner, the stock market will continue to climb. That wasn’t the case at the start of the year,