CNBC Business News Update - Market Open: Stocks Lower, S&P 500 Index On Pace For 17% 2025 Gain, Fewer People Applied For Jobless Benefits 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 Eddinger, CNBC. A slight pullback this morning for the major averages on this final trading day of 2025. It is a full trading day on Wall Street for this New Year's Eve day. The Dow down 34 points, the S&P 500 index, down two points. The NASDAQ is down two points. Shares of Nvidia are up more than 1% this morning. The S&P 500 index on pace to close out the year with a gain of 17%. 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 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%. Goldman up almost 54, 55%.

Johnson and Johnson up over 42, almost 43%. Invidia up about 40% 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%, followed by Salesforce pulling back more than 20, Nike, P&G, and Home Depot, rounding out this group, Home Depot, down just about 11%. Fewer people than expected applied for unemployment benefits last week, which included the Christmas holiday.

$199,000. 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 2 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 Skydance's latest hostile takeover bid. Wendy's, Denny's, and Jack in the Box, plus Bahama Breeze, Hardy's, 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 5. 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 dot com slash get pro now