CNBC Business News Update - Market Midday: Stocks Lower, Markets On Pace for A Winning 2025, Dow Winners & Losers 12/31/25

Episode Date: December 31, 2025

From Wall Street to Main Street, the latest on the markets and what it means for your money. Updated regularly on weekdays, featuring CNBC expert analysis and sound from top business newsmakers. Anchored and reported by CNBC's Jessica Ettinger. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

I'm Jessica Ettinger. CNBC final trading day of the year. The major averages all in the red. The Dow is down 114 points this afternoon. IBM shares leading it lower. They're down 1%. Disney shares down just about 1%. McDonald's down about a half a percent.

The S&P 500 index down 17 points. The NASDAQ is down 52 points, maybe some profit taking. shares of NVIDIA are in the green up three quarters of 1% this afternoon. Still, the S&P 500 index, the fund for which is in a lot of people's retirement accounts. That index is on pace to close out the year with a 17% gain. Disappointing for many investors who have enjoyed the two previous years, which had gains of more than 20%, but still not bad. Obviously, the AI trade combined with an economy that did better,

than expected. Yes. Overall, partly because of AI, but also partly because of the strength of the consumer and the Federal Reserve, which cut interest rates three times

in the face of an economy that wasn't going into recession. All of that was very supportive for the markets. Third year in a row here of double-digit games. No doubt. CNBC's Sarah Eisen.

So what were the winners and losers in the Dow for 2025? Here's CNBC's Frank Holland. The best and the worst performers on the Dow this year, take a look. You see Caterpillar up, just about 58, almost 59 percent. Goldman up almost 54, 55 percent. Johnson and Johnson up over 42,

almost 43 percent. Invita up about 40 percent, rounding out the bunch. And then you have to look at the worst performers in the Dow this year as well. United Health, the biggest laggard, pulling back more than 34 percent, followed by Salesforce pulling back more than 20. Nike, P&G, and Home Depot, rounding out this group, Home Depot down just about 11 percent. Fewer people than expected. Applied for unemployment benefits last week, which included the Christmas holiday. thousand. We don't have many of these numbers under 200,000, and we know many are going to point to seasonalities due to holiday issues and work week, number of days. I'm sure seasonal issues probably are coming into play here. That's CNBC's Rick Santelli. Today is Warren Buffett's last

day as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway. Longtime Berkshire executive Greg Abel is taking over. Buffett's more than 60-year career saw his wealth grow into the billions. And at 95 years old, he's already started giving most of his money away. Taiwan's semiconductor shares were higher on a Reuters report that NVIDIA asked it to boost H-200 chip production because of Chinese orders exceeding two million units in the new year. Warner Brothers' discovery shares were a little lower this morning as CNBC's David Faber reports that the company plans to reject Paramount Skydances late in hostile takeover bid. Wendy's, Danny's, and Jack in the Box, plus Bahama Breeze, Hardies, Papa John's, Noodles and Company, Outback Steakhouse,

and Starbucks each closed numerous locations this year trying to streamline and improve their businesses. Hooters, Pinstripes, and on the border were some of the bigger restaurant chains that landed in bankruptcy court this year. Netflix wrapping up the series Stranger Things Tonight at 8. Eastern with the eighth and final episode of season five. Jessica Eddinger, CNBC. Become a smarter investor with CNBC Pro, 24-7 access to market-moving news and interviews with three global live streams, subscriber-only content, plus exclusive live events.

This is my first time at the stock exchange, and it's been awesome. To be on the floor, I just can't believe I'm here. Become a CNBC pro. Go to CNBC.com slash get pro now.