SPX: S&P 500 Futures Point Lower as Traders Head into Final Month of the Year

After a turbulent November, the final month of 2025 isn’t looking to bring more market-moving news and events.

📉 Futures Slip as December Begins

• S&P 500 futures pointed lower Monday as traders stepped into the final month of 2025, bracing for another wild stretch after November’s roller-coaster swings. Momentum is intact, but enthusiasm is slightly muted.
• Last week’s strong gains, 3.7% for the S&P, 4.9% for the Nasdaq, and 3.2% for the Dow, didn’t fully erase November’s action, which saw the Nasdaq briefly plunge nearly 8% from its October close.
• AI valuation worries linger, and traders remain wary after tech’s recent wobble. December’s slower news flow could help stabilize sentiment (or leave markets drifting without a catalyst).

🌀 November Was a Wild One

• Despite the late-month rebound, the S&P 500 and Dow finished November essentially flat, while the Nasdaq snapped a seven-month winning streak with a 1.5% decline. Not exactly the smooth finale investors hoped for.
• Volatility was fueled by concerns that parts of the AI trade had gotten stretched. When traders start whispering “bubble,” tech charts often respond with sharp, abrupt air pockets.
• Still, dips were met with buyers, suggesting it was positioning that drove the swings. The market feels fragile but functional and December is nothing short of exciting and market-moving.

📅 December’s Data Drip

• Key inflation releases arrive early: the Fed’s preferred gauge lands Dec. 5, followed by CPI on Dec. 10. With rate-cut odds in flux, every decimal matters more than usual.
• The Fed’s Dec. 10 rate decision is the month’s main event, likely overshadowing even the jobs report on Dec. 16. Traders will be looking for clarity on whether easing kicks off this year or drifts into 2026.
• With lots of other major catalysts on the calendar, December could be the ultimate test to your portfolio strategy before the year's out. Brace yourself properly and go seize the day.